Pubdate: Wed, 14 Dec 2005
Source: Mindanao Daily Mirror (Philippines)
Copyright: 2005 Mindanao Daily Mirror
Contact:  http://www.dailymirror.net.ph/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4053
Author: Jessie Casalda
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

2,662 STUDES COMPLETE DRUG-EDUCATION COURSE

A total of 2,662 elementary and high school students from public schools 
graduated from the new drug-education program dubbed Drug Abuse Resistance 
Education (DARE) course initiated by the Department of Education (DEPED) in 
coordination with the local government and the Davao City Police Office.

Students of Talomo Elementary School and Bucana Elementary School graduated 
from the DARE course on December 7 and December 9, respectively.

Launched on February 4, 2005 in Davao City, the DARE course is gearing 
towards its second year of implementation in selected elementary and 
secondary schools in the city with 13 schools (10 elementary and three high 
school) already covered.

DARE is a 10-week twice-a-week course administered in the fifth and sixth 
grade and high school students of selected schools in the city.

Davao DepEd DARE coordinator Cielo Estrada said as of now, only selected 
schools are covered by the program due to lack of DARE officers and educators.

"At present, we have only 20 DARE officers and six educators who were 
trained by the DARE Canadian Mentors last year," Estrada said.

DARE, which started in the United States in early 80s, teaches children to 
abstain from drugs, alcohol, and gangs. It also tries to boost self-esteem 
and resistance to peer pressure.

The course is taught by specially trained uniformed law enforcement officers.

As of the moment, Estrada said they have difficulty in covering all the 
schools due to their limited uniformed officers who also render duty as 
police officers.

"If they would work full time as DARE officers, we can expect that they 
would be bombarded with several memorandums considering that they have to 
work also as police officers," Estrada said.

Due to the success of the program, Estrada said Mayor Rodrigo Duterte had 
suggested the inclusion of DARE in the school curriculum.

DepEd regional director Diamar Kadon, who witnessed the graduation of DARE 
students in Bucana Elementary School, said he is open to the idea of 
integrating DARE to the curriculum.

Estrada said during the first year, DARE course gained positive response 
from the students as they developed their relationship with the police 
officers.

Source: JESSIE CASALDA
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