From kinder to Grade 12, kids to get drug education

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has given the go signal for the Department of Health (DOH) to educate school children from kindergarten to Grade 12 about the ill effects of taking illegal drugs.

“This program provides for drug education for each grade level from kindergarten all the way to Grade 12 aligned with the main curriculum, but it allows schools to introduce preventive drug education in other subject areas,” Cabinet Secretary Nograles said.

Nograles noted the need to step up the government’s Preventive Drug Education (PDE) program.

Nograles explained that the Department of Education (DepEd) is in charge of preparing the lesson plans on drug abuse prevention and anti-illegal drugs topics. 

Nograles added that the DepEd is developing updated comprehensive supplemental PDE material in cooperation with the DOH, Dangerous Drugs Board and other experts for curriculum integration, co-curricular programs, teacher’s capacity building, parents’ awareness and education. 

Meanwhile, the DepEd will also launch Barkada Kontra Droga to emphasize co-curricular activities such as arts contests, drug abuse prevention and control week, drug education program exhibits, parenting seminars and counseling/coaching services.

The Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) will also be revived by the DepEd, where active officers from the Philippine National Police will undergo training to certify them to teach DARE lessons in classrooms. 

The DepEd will allow uniformed DARE officers to teach one-hour lessons once a week per section for 17 weeks.