Pubdate: Sun, 29 Jun 2003
Source: East African Standard, The (Kenya)
Copyright: 2003 The East African Standard
Contact: editorial@eastandard.net
Website: http://www.eastandard.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1743
Author: Evelyn Kwamboka, Daniel Nyassy And Patrick Beja

TEACHERS VOW TO FIGHT DRUGS

NAIROBI-The Kenya Secondary School Heads Association has resolved to support
and commit itself to make learning institutions drug free zones.

The heads of schools also recommended that sponsors of national
educational events should be rejected if they are promoting the use of
drugs.

This was said during the head teachers' national annual conference in
Mombasa. Over 3,500 heads of schools and key ministry officials
attended the meeting.

In his keynote speech on drug abuse among students, Prof Peter
Odhiambo said there are 400,000 secondary school students who were
already addicted to drugs.

Odhiambo, who is associated with the National Agency on the Campaign
Against Drugs (Nacada), said the number of girls abusing drugs was
also growing at an alarming rate.

"Out of the 400,000 secondary school students abusing drugs, 16,000
are girls," he said.

He said students have wrong beliefs that when they take drugs, their
performance would be enhanced.

Nacada national co-ordinator, Joseph Kaguthi, said the agency has
allocated Sh1.8 million in the fight against drugs in secondary schools.

Kaguthi said drug barons were targeting those aged between 15 and 21
years, mainly secondary school students.

"Every year, drug barons get Sh400 million from drugs sold in Kenya,"
he said.

The association's chairman, Mr Peterson Muthathai, said the
association will assist its members to strengthen guidance and
counselling departments to achieve desirable discipline in line with
children's rights.

Due to the increasing number of strikes in schools, the teachers
resolved that head teachers, teachers, school property and students be
insured.

He said that a lot of property has been lost due to strikes in
schools.

Muthathai said the current insurance policy on vehicles was not
adequate as it does not cover passengers.

He said both the Minister and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry
of Education have shown great interest in giving schools a better cover.

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