DepEd OKs Drug Testing, Assures Parents Permission

● DepEd official said parent’s permission should be secured first before students be subjected to random drug testing.

The Department of Education (DepEd) officials in Cebu City assured parents that their permission would be secured first before their children will be 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 (COSAP), announced its coordination with DepEd on how to conduct the random drug testing to students.

Angtud said she is not against the move that the students be subjected to a random drug testing, but countered that it should be done only after the school secures the permission of the parents concerned. She added that the results of the test and the identity of the students should not be made public.

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

“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,” Angtud said.

Some parents of night high school students in Barangay Apas welcomed the move of COSAP to conduct a random drug testing but asked 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 that is why COSAP is planning to shift its attention to the schools once the surprise drug test to barangay officials and employees would be completed.

Of the 80 barangays in Cebu City, COSAP had already conducted surprise drug tests to the officials and employees of about 50 barangays and found 107 barangay workers positive of illegal drug use.

The records show that in 2005, DepEd had conducted the drug testing to students, although on a smaller number and from selected schools.

From DepEd records, Cebu City alone has over 52,000 high school students, but Angtud said they are expecting this figure to increase by 5,000 this school-year, including the elementary pupils.