AMID the government's crackdown on narcotics trade, the Department of Education (DepEd) is considering including "drug education" in the public school curriculum, Malacañang announced Thursday, February 7.
The proposal was made during the 34th Cabinet meeting led by President Rodrigo Duterte at Malacañan Palace on Wednesday, February 6.
"Discussed [during the Cabinet meeting] was the incorporation of drug education in the public school curriculum," Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.
"The Department of Education Secretary [Leonor Briones] presented its curriculum for drug education," he added.
Panelo, however, did not elaborate on Briones's presentation with regard to the proposed inclusion of drug education in the curriculum of public learning institutions.
The Palace official merely noted that Briones had updated the President about the Education department's efforts on the campaign against illegal drugs.
Panelo said that so far, the DepEd has initiated barkada kontra droga (peer groups against drugs), establishment of barkada (peer) centers, school-based activities like poster and slogan-making, counseling and coaching, and drug testing for teachers and high school students.
As early as last year, the DepEd is developing a comprehensive education material aimed at bolstering drug prevention program in public schools.
Since Duterte's campaign against illegal drugs was launched in July 2016, over 5,000 alleged drug personalities have been reported killed. (SunStar Philippines)