01 Sep CHED is Considering Drug Testing Policy For Student’s Admission to Universities and Colleges
On August 31, Wednesday, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is considering a policy that will let the colleges and universities to conduct drug testing as a requirement for the student’s admission.
Julito Vitriolo, CHED Executive Director said during the budget hearing at the House of Representatives, “We will do consultations and public hearing. In our experience, there are already schools implementing it. Even in the government and private sector, drug testing is also a requirement during pre-employment. They will not hire you if you’re positive. So I think the prospects for the admission is also good.”
This proposal was suggested by the inter-agency committee for drug testing, which is part of the Cabinet Assistance System. The committee is assigned to study on how the government assesses drug issue in schools and workplaces.
Vitriolo stated, “So for the schools, at the moment, while there is no ruling yet on the mandatory drug testing, we’ll do random drug testing first, but also we’re going further to study the possibility of making it a requirement for admission in colleges and universities.”
The proposal also involves retention in schools. Vitriolo elaborated, “For example, you’re already in the school, you tested positive during random drug testing, maybe that would be the reason for the school not to accept you anymore.”
This would include advanced methodology and sampling for accurate test results.
CHED will then pursue legal opinion of the Department of Justice when the policy is refined.
Vitriolo added, “Sabi nga namin kung may mangyari na ngayon, there’s a legal opinion, a legal basis for this year, baka 2017, [that] school year we can already [implement]….Across [the board] na ‘yan.”
Schools are one of the high-risk areas as it can be easily infiltrated, and CHED aims to prevent this rampant drug problem through this policy.
“Impressionable ang mga youth and considering na ang dami ng mga drugs na nagkalat, daming pushers, vulnerable sector siya (The youth are impressionable, and considering a lot of drugs have become widespread, and there are a lot of drug pushers, this is a vulnerable sector),” Vitriolo stated.
Meanwhile, drug testing in the basic education sector will not be mandatory but will still conduct random sampling.
The Department of Education intends to strengthen its curriculum on the risks of drug abuse in the country. The department also seeks to provide alternative learning assistance to the youth in drug rehabilitation centers.
News Source: Rappler
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