More guidance counselors, not drug tests needed

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) should scrap its multibillion-peso plan to conduct mandatory drug testing of students and the funding be used to hire more guidance counselors for the Department of Education (DepEd), Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said Monday.

The DepEd earlier estimated that with at least 14 million Grade 4 to Grade 12 students, the PDEA’s planned drug testing will need a budget of P2.8 billion.

“The P2.8 billion needed to fund PDEA’s proposed mandatory drug testing of Grade 4 to Grade 12 students will be put to better use if allocated to address the shortage of guidance counselors in elementary and high schools,” he said.

Students will be better served by having guidance counselors correct or prevent unhealthy behavior rather than subjecting them to drug testing, which he said was “a potentially traumatic experience,” Gatchalian, vice chair of the Senate committee on education, said.

“I would rather have more guidance counselors who will steer young students away from drug use by encouraging them to succeed in academics, sports, the arts, and other wholesome activities,” he said.

The DepEd requires public and private elementary and high schools to hire one guidance counselor for every 500 students.