SAITOTI SAYS GOVT TO INCLUDE DRUGS IN SCHOOL CURRICULUM

Nairobi

The Ministry of Education plans to incorporate drug and illicit liquor
abuse education into the curriculum.

The Ministry is currently carrying out an evaluation exercise in
primary and secondary schools so as to approve books that incorporate
topics that deal with drug abuse.

Education Minister, Prof George Saitoti, said at the weekend the
Ministry is working in liaison with other stakeholders to strengthen
guidance and counselling programmes, drug clubs in schools.

Saitoti said the Government move has been necessitated by studies
which reveal that 92 per cent of youth in school have experimented
with alcohol or drugs at least once.

"Visits by guidance and counselling officials from my Ministry
revealed that books in libraries have loose pages because students are
using them to roll drugs," said Saitoti in a speech read by the
Director of Education, Mr Patrick Myagosia.

The official was addressing a Drugs Free Day ceremony hosted by the
National Agency for the Campaign Against Drug Abuse (Nacada).

The event that was held at the Kenya College of Accountancy (KCA)
marked the first anniversary since the college was declared a drug
free zone by the agency following a survey that identified the college
to be free of drug abuse.

"We are working to see that other learning institutions emulate the
example of KCA. Smoking should be banned in all public places," said
Nacada National Co-ordinator, Mr Joseph Kaguthi.

Kaguthi said most youth first experiment with cigarettes before moving
on to hard drugs like bhang, mandrax, cocaine and heroine.

"Because of our decision, our staff and students can stand firm
without drinking and smoking for eight hours. This is the first step
to them avoiding drugs and alcohol when they get out there," said the
Chairman of KCA Board, Nelly Ngigi.