Private Schools Urge ‘Clear Guidelines‘ For Conduct of Drug Testing

Private Schools Urge ‘Clear Guidelines‘ For Conduct of Drug Testing

(News condensed from CBCP Monitor, Vol.13 No. 4, February 16 – March 1, 2009, by Roy Lagarde – News Editor)
by Armando A. Suñe

Catholic schools are in favor of the government plan for random drug testing to be conducted in both public and private schools in the country.

But the Catholic Educators Association in the Philippines (CEAP) along with other private schools wants the government to provide strict and clear guidelines in the conduct of drug testing in all high schools and tertiary levels.
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n a statement, the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA) said that while the drug testing is worthy of support there are still facets that need concern.

The educators said authorities have to assure the anxious public that it has set in place safeguards to prevent negligence or malice aimed at incriminating students.

The group cited the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 which provides that “students of secondary and tertiary schools shall, pursuant to the related rules and regulations as contained in the school’s student handbook and with notice to the parents, undergo random drug testing, the expenses of which will be borne by the government.”

“Hence, in the interest of safeguarding the rights of its students from being violated in the process, clear implementing guidelines should be created in consultation with school officials and be discussed with appropriate stakeholders,” it added.

And while the COCOPEA acknowledges the value of the random drug testing, they said that the government’s campaign against illegal drugs should “substantively focus on the drug pushers and not the victims – such as the students.”

Reflecting on the issue, it should prove prudent indeed for the government to issue “definite and clear guidelines”, in consultation with the private and public education sector, in order to forestall possible confusion, finger-pointing, blaming, and, to put it optimistically, to ensure the honest success of the random drug-testing campaign.

The drug-use problem in our country is an issue too dangerous to be left aside. It is like a Pandora’s Box which, if left unchecked and curtailed, will open a plethora of more problems detrimental to our country – an illegal-drugs-trade-fueled economy, weakened and lessened able-bodied labor force, loss of moral values, breakdown of family life, and decreasing importance of personal religious affiliations. In fact, some of these problems have already begun to take root beyond our comfortable knowledge.

Jose Rizal was right after all when he said, “The youth is the fair hope of the fatherland.” A drug-crazed generation in our youth sector would certainly hamper our quest for a better Philippines. Anyone among us doesn’t need to look far to witness the destructive effects of drugs on the victimized person.

The random drug-testing program of the government doesn’t have to go awry and unsuccessful because of poor and hasty planning. We commend and are one with the COCOPEA in calling awareness towards the urgent need for such “clear guidelines” to be issued and implemented by the government. As private citizens of our country, we join in the well-meaning call for the transparent pro-active response of the government authorities concerned. After all, as Ninoy Aquino said, “The Filipino is worth dying for,” and all the efforts of both the private sector and government should have no other motive than the honest and sincere delivery of the welfare needs of our people.