Schools await DepEd order for random drug testing
LINGAYEN—The Department of Education schools superintendent in Pangasinan Division 1 based here said her office is still awaiting instructions from the central office for the conduct of random drug testing of students.
Dr. Maria Celia Junio-Fernandez said the last pronouncement of Central Office Legal Unit is the piloting for the students.
She said central office will identify first areas where random drug testing will be conducted.
“It’s hard kasi pag sabay-sabay like there are constraints like funding (sino ang sasagot sa cost),” Fernandez said in a text message.
She added, “How ready are we to conduct massive drug testing?”
She also cited “parents’ willingness to subject their children (medyo may human rights consideration since our pupils/students are minors)”.
She said she called for strengthening home-school partnerships and collaboration.
“If only parents and teachers work together for our children (being real and reel parents to them), little or no problems of this kind and magnitude will happen,” she said.
She added, “In my division I, time and again, emphasize the need for teachers to teach with a heart.”
She said no random drug testing has been done and will not do so until an order from the department is received.
Fernandez said in schools division offices, applicants are now encouraged to take drug tests.
Meanwhile, Dr. Sheila Marie Primicias, schools division superintendent of San Carlos City, corroborated Fernandez’s statement, saying, “Ang alam ko wala pa” when asked about random drug testing of pupils in her schools division. (Eva Visperas)
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