Faridkot’s outside view of District Education Office.
On the instructions of the Deputy Commissioner of Faridkot, the District Education Officer has issued an order to all 85 government high and senior secondary schools in the district. According to this order, students to check the sale of drugs in the shops around them.
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In the detailed guidelines issued by the DEO, each school has been ordered to form a team of 10 students out of classes 9 to 12. A teacher will be appointed as a nodal officer to monitor this team. The main task of the team will be to inspect the shops around the school premises and ensure that no drugs are being sold there.
Teacher worried by administration’s order This new initiative has created anxiety and discomfort among teachers. Most teachers believe that it is not appropriate to include minor students in such risky works. He argues that this work is of security agencies and involvement of school children in it may be a threat to their safety.
Warning of strict action on not following the order The DEO issued the first letter on April 4 seeking the names of 10 students and a nodal officer from schools. When no response was received from the schools, another letter was sent on 9 April. In this second letter, strict action is warned for not following the order. This situation has become a cause of dilemma for school administration and teachers.
DEO (Secondary) Neelam Rani said that this order has been issued to schools to be vigilant in its premises and surrounding areas. He said that its main objective is to keep the students away from drugs and motivate the victims of drug addiction to the government de -addiction centers.
Letter sent to schools on 9 April issued by DEO.
Letter sent to schools on 4 April issued by DEO.
Children’s safety during inspection is a big issue Prem Chawla, advisor to the Punjab Government School Teachers Union, has expressed his concern on the issue. He says that although the move aims to strengthen the fight against drug addiction, safety of children during the inspection of shops is a major issue. While children have to be saved from drugs on the one hand, on the other hand they are being included in this dangerous work.