Winning the school drug war

A KZN school's no-nonsense approach to drugs is proving to be such a success, it could lead the way for other schools.

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Durban - A Durban school’s no-nonsense approach to pupils using drugs is proving to be such a success that it could point the way for other schools battling the scourge.

Queensburgh High School has conducted about 350 drug tests on its pupils over two years and was now “achieving results”, its deputy principal, Marthinus Myburgh, said this week.

On Friday the pupils, led by the student representative body, demonstrated outside the school, carrying banners to drive home their “Say No to Drugs” campaign.

Joining them were the Malvern police, Durban Metro Police and parents.

Education department spokesman Muzi Mahlambi said the school had improved its academic results, attendance, wearing of unifroms and even general maintenance.

“We commend the management, school governing body, parents and learners for the cooperation they have demonstrated in fighting all the social ills that have been engulfing the school.”

Myburgh said he and principal, Rodney Dlamini, began the “intensive” drug testing when rowdiness and poor discipline in class began affecting the pass rate.

The “vigorous” testing had an immediate impact: parents were given the results of the tests, helping them to understand their teenagers’ behaviour at home and school.

Vee Gani, chairman of the KwaZulu-Natal Parents’ Association, said the association supported drug testing at schools and similar programmes should be rolled out to other schools.

“If this is done within the ambit of the law, then it is a good thing. It is about making education a focal point at schools and goes to assist in modifying learner behaviour.

“If the learners know that they could be tested at any given time it will deter them from doing drugs. It has a knock-on effect for the overall morale at school and chases away potential drug dealers from targeting school kids,” he said.

 

Myburgh said testing at Queensburgh High was far from random. Pupils were picked if they showed signs such as: sleeping in classes, a drop in results, associating with older pupils with a known drug history, or if they smelled of dagga.

He said the school’s testing kit could pick up dagga, methamphetamines, amphetamines and opiates. Most of the positive tests were for dagga.

Initially the school’s drug-testing policy was unpopular with parents, who challenged him about it, said Myburgh. But he stood his ground and referred them to the South African Schools Act, which allows for drug testing and searches at schools.

He said the Department of Education supported the initiative. “My job at the school is to achieve results. I cannot achieve them if pupils are disruptive and high,” Myburgh said.

The tests were done by taking urine samples.

Pupils who tested positive and did not want to comply were taken to rehabilitation. Those who did not want treatment went before a school tribunal where they faced expulsion. Myburgh said making the policy work had been tough and had taken team effort.

The school has 50 prefects “on site” looking for drugs.

Teachers also monitored the school’s hallways during breaks and class times. Myburgh praised the school’s staff who, he said, had a “tremendous love” for the pupils.

Hawks and SAPS officials had come to the school in the past to give talks about the dangers of drugs, and the South African National Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence had given talks about substance abuse at parents evenings.

“Yesterday, early in the morning, we had police come in to check (bags),” he said.

He also said there was little they could do if the children took drugs outside the school because it was out of their jurisdiction.

 

He said the initiative had improved the morale and sense of security of pupils, creating an environment more conducive to learning.

 

Senior lecturer at the department of criminology and forensic studies at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Dr Nirmala Gopal, said parents should support such initiatives if they were done procedurally and ethically.

“In society, substance abuse is frighteningly high and school learners form a big part of it,” Gopal said.

Some parents could be living in denial about their children’s drug problems.

Daily News