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SoCot eyes random drug tests for college students

By Roel Osano

November 20, 2019, 9:59 pm

<p>South Cotabato Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. <em>(PNA GenSan file photo)</em></p>

South Cotabato Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. (PNA GenSan file photo)

KORONADAL CITY -- The provincial government of South Cotabato is pushing for a regular random drug testing starting next school year for college and vocational students in the province.

South Cotabato Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. said Wednesday the regular drug testing is one of the strategies that seek to stop cases of illegal drug use among students.

Tamayo said school officials and concerned stakeholders in the province agreed during a recent meeting the implementation of random drug testing.

“We have an agreement with the presidents of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) for the conduct of random drug testing for college students, along with the implementation of our free (tertiary) education program starting next year,” the governor said.

Tamayo said the drug tests will start in June next year.

Moreover, the governor said the provincial government is currently working with concerned agencies and HEIs in the province to make college education free through the national government’s subsidy and scholarship programs.

The provincial government has already been implementing the free education program at the elementary and secondary levels.

Tamayo said that since education will be free, parents will be required to sign an agreement allowing their children to undergo drug tests.

He said students who will be found positive of using illegal drugs will be subjected to a "moral recovery program."

The governor noted that when he was mayor of Tupi town, random drug testing in schools was effective in eradicating drug use among students.

“Out of 32 students who were tested in the school year 2013-2014, 18 were found positive of using illegal drugs. But with the continuous drug tests, nobody has been tested positive since 2016,” he said.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) earlier said it recognizes the academic freedom of all HEIs, particularly in implementing a policy on mandatory random drug testing of their students as part of the schools’ admission and retention requirements. (PNA)

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