We have a collective responsibility to raise, educate and grow our children as a united front. Going it alone as experience has shown, is an exercise in futility. What is not in dispute is that our children are a precious gift from God, coming to join this trouble prone-world as clean, pure and unblemished ‘lambs.’ They are the custodians of our common future and heritage.
Their preservation, however, in this deadly, callous and dog-eat-dog world, poses a serious challenge. This is due to the fact that people tend to see the world through narrow, parochial and selfish lens, choosing to look after their own and caring less or nothing about the welfare of the child of a next door neighbour. Today there is an evil empire that gaining currency. Among other things the evil empire is peddling drugs in our communities. As the name suggests, the evil empire is so ruthless in that its prime target is our pure and innocent children in school uniforms. It is an empire purely motivated in the main by profit maximisation. Drug abuse is assuming centre stage, achieving the undesirable effect of veering our children off course. Schools are trying, with limited success, all they can do to insulate the learning community from the evil empire. Desperately schools need allies to keep drugs out of schools.
The role of strong parent-community support in this process of keeping drug free atmosphere in schools cannot be overemphasised. Schools can only thrive and prosper when standing on the broad shoulders of the whole community. The fight against drugs is a difficult one but not entirely insurmountable. It is easy to crack the drug syndicate, because they are not operating a subtle and purely underground business. They are known. Dikgang di mo bathong (issues are with the people).
The only challenge is that people are reluctant to volunteer information to schools and security authorities. The reason is that people remain indifferent when their own children are not involved or affected.
In broad day light or at night, people see drug peddlers perverting and corrupting children in school uniform. Some drug peddlers run distribution points masquerading as legitimate tuckshops. Children who are already addicted cultivate a habit of collecting their stuff even before attending classes. This obviously affect their concentration span and more often they find the slightest excuse to visit the toilet with monotonous regularity.
The environment surrounding our schools can be so hostile to an extent of frustrating the very purpose for which schools are built. Any school trying to stand on its own feet without a strong parent-community support may be working on shaky grounds. The community too must come to the party and step up its surveillance efforts to keep drug peddlers at bay.
Children involved in drugs display a number of visible signs such as fatigue, aloofness, aggressive tendencies, lack of punctuality, declining personal hygiene and achievement levels at school. If no interventions are made, such children may completely drop out of school. Parents should look out for these depressing signs and seek early interventions.
Substance abuse is the number one enemy of progress in schools. The provision of quality education and securing the future of children rest not only with schools but also the entire world surrounding the school environment. It is dangerous to remain unconcerned when your child is not involved. The problem is that one may not know who is next. It is safer to act now to save your child from being the next target. The evil empire is a real menace threatening to disrupt the education pursuits of our children and their future. Let us unite against the scourge of drugs because we can thrive together if we become each brother’s keeper. An injury to one should be an injury for all.
