Anti drugs programme makes waves in school

IN YET another collaborative effort with the Islamic Studies Department of the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA), Narcotic Control Bureau (NCB) launched its one-day "Anti drugs activities programme in religious schools" yesterday.

Organised by NCB under the purview of the Ministry of Education (MoE), the programme is now extended to the department.

Held at the Hassanal Bolkiah Boys Arabic Secondary School, the programme was targeted at officers and staff of the department as well as teachers and students in Arabic and religious schools. A total of 42 participants who are principals and headmasters from both Arabic and religious schools attended the event. Participants were educated on what drug really is and the disciplinary actions that will be taken if government officers are found involved in drug activities.

It also saw NCB educating the Bruneian youth on an international drug trafficking syndicate that has exploited or used people from several Southeast Asian countries as their "couriers". Paraphernalia used for drug consumption and more information on drugs were also put on display for the participants.

Ustazah Hjh Fatimah Hj Abd Ghani, Assistant Director of Islamic Studies Department, MoRA said that the programme was aimed at providing deeper understanding on the danger of drug abuse to the mental, physical and spiritual aspects of a person.She added that the programme would be implemented in stages and included in the 2010 programme for the department.

Permanent Secretary of MoRA, Hj Md Mahdi Pehin Orang Kaya Digadong Seri Diraja Dato Laila Utama Hj Abdul Rahman stressed, "Eventhough Al-Quran did not directly mention about drugs, the principle on this is clear." He elaborated that, "In Islam, Muslims are forbidden from engaging in any activities that will cause harm to him or people around him, and this include drug abuse."

Addressing the teachers, Hj Md Mahdi touched on the roles that parents and teachers as well as the government agencies played in combating drug-related activities.

"Relevant parties have to look beyond the boundaries. In this modern time, there are a lot of things that can drive an individual to take drugs. School is a place where students continue their education, the first from their parents and families," he added. "Teachers have to be proactive. Schools have to possess the skills (needed) to identify problematic students and approach them with a systematic and effective counselling session". These can help them to solve their problems and prevent them from getting further involved in social ills.

"I believe teachers realise their role as formal educators. They understand that they are closest to the students at schools. Monitor and observe the students so that they would not be involved in such activities," he said, adding that in 2008, four to five per cent of the total number of drug-related arrests involved students. Drug abuse has brought about huge losses to the country — socially, culturally, economically, religion and education.

Speaking specifically on the role of religion and education on this issue, he said that both religion and education could pose a barrier for youth to prevent themselves from engaging in drug-related activities.

"Empowering religious education curriculum would not reap the benefits that we hope for if it is not fully appreciated by all levels of the community and age (groups)," Hj Md Mahdi added. "Do your best and apply different approaches according to the changes in drug trends," he urged all participants as drug trends adapt themselves to the environment. "We have to have strong wills to fight the drug war, and create a zero-drug environment," he added.

The Brunei Times