SCOTS PLAN TO MONITOR DRUG TESTS

The Scottish Executive is to closely monitor English plans to empower
schools to order random drug tests of pupils.

Prime Minister Tony Blair announced the move for England and Wales which
has already attracted widespread concern north of the border.

Under guidelines to be distributed next month, headteachers would be given
the power to take urine samples. They could also offer counselling to drugs
users and exclude repeat offenders.

The plans would also provide for the use of sniffer dogs.

The idea follows US evidence showing drug testing dramatically cuts drug
abuse among secondary pupils.

But the Executive said it would follow the progress of the proposal before
considering whether to introduce it here.

A spokeswoman said: "Teachers in Scotland are already aware of the need to
look out for signs of drug-taking."

Ronnie Smith, general secretary of the Educational Institute of Scotland,
said: "If it was random testing, then I think that would be a pretty
ill-considered thing to do .

"It would be different if teachers had grounds for believing some pupil was
under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

"But if we are talking about teachers randomly trawling whole pupil
populations to catch someone out, it would be very damaging."

He admitted schools are not drug-free but said it may be better to target
dealers.

And David Eaglesham, president of the Scottish Secondary Teachers'
Association, branded the scheme "quite nonsensical".

He said: "There is this idea that schools can deal with all the ills of
society and they simply cannot."

Scottish Lib Dem health spokesperson Mike Rumbles today slammed the proposals.

The West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine MSP, who has taught at Banchory
Academy and Portlethen Academy said: "I think these proposals are outrageous."