Pubdate: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 Source: Visayan Daily Star (Philippines) Copyright: 2009 Visayan Daily Star Contact: http://www.visayandailystar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1688 Author: Chrysee Samillano Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing) BACOLOD SCHOOLS HEAD FAVORS DRUG TESTS Bacolod Schools Division Superintendent Milagros Gonzales said she is in favor of the implementation of drug testing on students and teachers as long as it will not entail any expense on their part. The conduct of random drug testing on students is one of the measures recommended by the Dangerous Drugs Board to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Gonzales said they received an order on drug testing from the Department of Education in January 2009. "However, we should consider the rights of our students since there might be those who do not want to be examined. But there is a big question if you don't want to be examined, because if you are clean, you have nothing to fear," she said. Gonzales said the school administration should also be informed before drug testing is initiated in the school. Usually, they do not give schedules since the test is done at random, she said. The DepEd had conducted drug testing in the schools in 2003 and there was a committee conducting it, Gonzalez said. They had been informed that drug testing will be conducted in some schools in Bacolod City but they were not given the exact date and time, she said. Gonzales said she sees no problem if the DepEd will conduct drug testing as long as they are not made to spend because they do not have funds for it. But usually, it is the national government that provides the funds, she also said. Asked if she is also in favor of drug testing for teachers, Gozales said that before teachers are hired, they are made to undergo test for drug use. They are also required to undergo neuro-psycho test, which are requirements in the hiring process, she added.*CGS - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom