Pubdate: Tue, 01 May 2007
Source: Fiji Times (Fiji)
Copyright: 2007 Fiji Times Limited
Contact:  http://www.fijitimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3445
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Marijuana)

TEACHERS DYING OF STRESS A CONCERN

STUDIES on the impact of drugs and  substance abuse on school students
carried out by the  National Substance Abuse Advisory Council of the
Education Ministry should be extended to include  teachers.

The recommendation by Hassan Khan, the executive  director of the Fiji
Council of Social Services  (FCOSS), comes in reaction to claims by
the Fijian  Teacher's Association (FTA) that its members are dying
from stress.

"It is very stressing to read that our teachers are  dying of stress
as claimed by the president of FTA.  This is indeed a very serious
assertion and there is an  urgent need for a full study on the
issue," Mr Khan  said.

He said it needed to be known what role alcohol,  tobacco, yaqona, and
marijuana played in creating or  increasing stress levels, not only in
teachers but the  population.

"I recall that as way back as early 1970s, a major  study jointly
done by USP Deptartment of Social Welfare  and FCOSS, strongly
recommended the urgent introduction  of counsellors in the school
system and an investment  in training professional social workers.

"The shelving of such a wise report is costing us  dearly
now."

Mr Khan said the unions would be better off putting  more funds into
primary health care of their members  rather than building rental
apartments which may not be  of any use to members who, because of
stress, have  moved on to secondary diseases like heart, kidney,
liver, diabetes and mental health problems.

"It is about time we cared more about the health  balance and not
bank balances," Mr Khan said.

"Our teachers are the premier social leaders of the  community and
they need to be de-stressed. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake