Losing out its young generation to the menace of drugs, the Punjab government has decided to tackle the problem at the grassroots level by introducing the issue of drug de-addiction at schools.
In a latest directive issued by the state education department, drug de-addiction is going to be the integral part of the school curriculum.
In its 14-point agenda, the director-general of school education (DGSE) has ordered all its district education officers (DEOs) that head teachers of all the government schools in the state should be directed that drug de-addiction is discussed during the morning assembly.
The directive has further asked the schools that during their monthly bal sabha (students meeting), held on the last working day of every month, should have some activity related to the issue of drug de-addiction. The activity could vary from play, skit, group songs, debate and declamation, fancy dress and rallies on days like Anti-Tobacco Day and International Drug Abuse Day. The move is aimed at generating awareness on the issue among the school children.
The other instruction to the schools include that all school notice boards should carry a slogan daily related to the de-addiction, apart from a collage highlighting the ill-effects of drug addiction to be displayed on notice boards.
The students will be encouraged to participate in slogan writing and poster making competition on the issue. The education department has also asked the schools to lay emphasis on the counselling of the students addicted to drugs.