DepEd assures: No drug test without consent from parents

CEBU, Philippines - Department of Education officials in Cebu City have assured the parents of students that their permission will first be secured before their children are subjected to random drug testing.

Rhea Mar Angtud, DepEd district superintendent for Cebu City, issued the statement after the City Office for Substance-Abuse Prevention, announced that they are now coordinating with the DepEd on how to conduct the random drug testing on students.

Angtud said she is not against the idea that the students will be subjected to random drug testing, but it should be done only after the school will secure the permission of the parents concerned. She assured that the results of the drug test and the identity of the students shall not be made public.

The education official explained that the random drug testing of students could be very useful to both to DepEd and the parents because they will know if the concerned students are using drugs.

“Maayo man nga programa ang random drug testing kay makatabang kini sa mga ginikanan nga mahibaw-an mentras sayo pa kun nag-drugas ba ang ilang mga anak aron kahimoan dayon og aksyon,” said Angtud.

Some parents of night high school students in Barangay Apas welcomed the move of COSAP to conduct random drug testing among students, although they are asking that the school officials should first inform them before the test.

There were reports that some night high school students in Cebu City are drug users, this is why COSAP is planning to shift its attention to the schools once the surprise drug test on barangay officials and employees are finished.

Of the 80 barangays in Cebu City, COSAP had already conducted surprise drug tests on the officials and employees of about 50 barangays and so far 107 barangay workers have been found positive of illegal drugs.

Records show that in 2005, the DepEd had already tried drug testing on students, although on a smaller number of students in selected schools.

DepEd records show that in Cebu City alone, there were over 52,000 high school students, but Angtud said they are expecting that the figure to increase by 5,000 this school year, including the elementary pupils.   (FREEMAN)