Malawi, UN embark on drug abuse programme in schools

Malawi and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) prevention on Friday embarked on a programme to train educators on how to stop drug abuse in the country’s public primary and secondary schools.

The aim of the programme is to reduce drug abuse and related HIV/Aids among young people in the country.

Home Affairs and Internal Security Minister Ernest Malenga said in Lilongwe the drug problems to be addressed by the programme mentioned are related to the high incidents of drug abuse among the youth places the government considers a safe and disciplined learning environment.

"This is one of the critical elements to the successful delivery of quality education and ensures that drugs should not undermine the standards of quality education in Malawi," he said.

According to recent studies, primary and secondary students, as young as 11 years old, were busing drugs, with marijuana being the most popular substance of abuse, followed by alcohol.

The minister said the ultimate goal is for the local schools to operate in a drug-free environment so that no smoking and drinking is permitted within the school premises.

UNODC representative Sophia van Rensburg said the programme would help to curb drug abuse in Malawi’s schools.

Van Rensburg therefore urged government to role out the programme to private schools of the country as well.