Background

1985 - Present

Significant strides have been made since the Ministry of Education, Youth & Culture (MOEYC) first responded to the increasing drug problem. Ongoing training and other prevention activities have been executed. Among these are the articulation of a policy on Substance Abuse in Schools, and an evaluation of the PEP (MOEYC 1997) and ongoing support of the work of the National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA).

The present focus will continue to be national and at all levels of the system. Emphasis will be placed on the development of student curriculum support materials. Pre and in-service and peer leadership training will be intensified. Student activities will include conferences, exchanges and creative expression. Improved communication will be encouraged through greater collaboration and timely dissemination of information.

In cognizance of the conflict between exposure to substance abuse prevention in schools and practices in the home, community and society, it is hoped that the prevention programme would become much more institutionally appropriate in that accepted attitudinal change, demonstration of refusal skills, problem solving and coping skills will be evident. It is projected that school personnel, parents and students will be more prepared, informed, trained and able to access relevant and current information through the use of technology, for example, chatline/website interactions.

PEP Update

Through the European Union grant executed by the National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA), and European Union (EU), the Ministry's Prevention Education Programme (PEP), received a boost in May 2000. Since then the following activities have been undertaken.

• Revision of the three-year Action Plan
• Revision of the one-year Implementation Plan
• Initiation of contacts with target groups
• Training of 75 Guidance Counsellors in Drug Abuse Counselling Techniques and Management of Mini Projects.
• Selection of proposal for mini projects 2000-2001

Activities 2000-2001

PEP activities scheduled to for completion in March 2001, aimed at 30% of early childhood, primary, secondary, and tertiary educational institutions engaged in delivering a Prevention Education Programme.

The programme was developed around three components:

1. Research: Report provided on the evaluation of the Prevention Education Programme (PEP) in schools
2. Training: One hundred and fifty teachers, 20 lecturers/tutors, 14 early childhood officers, and 25 guidance counsellors trained to prepare scope and sequence for substance abuse prevention education for the early childhood, primary, secondary, tertiary levels. Fifty students trained as peer counsellors, and mini-projects in 30 schools provided with seed money
3. Development of curriculum support materials: Education and support material provided for the schools programme.

(From official NCDA/EU Prject Document)

Revised PEP summary

Philosophy

The programme as conceived by the MOEYC will be guided by sound educational philosophy and practice. As such the overriding imperative must be to promote the development of the total person. Similarly, the mission, focus, methodology, time frame, goals, objectives, activities, and materials will be consistent with the realities of the classroom.

The prevention philosophy will embrace the Ministry of Education and Culture’s seven strategy objectives, especially numbers 3, 4, and 6. The long-term objectives are Educational and Social – the outcomes being well-adjusted and productive individuals, capable of reaching their full potential and contributing positively to the Society.

To this end great emphasis will be placed on personal development, promoting positive self-concept, high self-esteem, and including responsible attitude towards personal health and environmental well being and developing social and life management skills.

Focus

The programme will promote health and healthy life styles/approaches

Goals

1. To assist in reducing the demand for substances subject to abuse among students, by introducing appropriate programme of activities at the school level.
2. To promote responsible and positive personal attitude and behavior models among students thereby reducing the demand for substances subject to misuse

Objectives

The major objectives are to:

1. Expand the programme to all school types: targeting identified high risk areas for special attention;
2. Review the prevention education curriculum and encourage greater levels of integration and infusion for grades across the system where necessary;
3. Review the policy guidelines for substance misuse among students;
4. Provide greater access to resource materials for the teacher and student in all school types;
5. Ascertain the scope of substance abuse education at the tertiary level and provide an appropriate response;
6. Provide adequately trained persponnel to implement the programme in all schools;
7. Evaluate the programme at appropriate intervals and disseminate the findings among educational and other agencies.

Mission

To contribute to the total development of the student who will demonstrate competence and maturity in the mental, social, emotional, physical and spiritual aspects of his/her life.

Methodology

Curriculum intervention will involve infusion and integration at the early childhood, primary, secondary and tertiary levels Discrete interventions will be made where and when applicable.

Content

The programme will be developed around the seven concepts:

1. Personal development
2. Self Esteem
3. Self Confidence
4. Self Concept
5. Responsibility
6. Citizenship
7. Relationship
8. Empowerment
9. Drug awareness
10. Leisure

Imperative for the Prevention Education Programme in the School system 2000-2003

1. Programme Evaluation And Review:

   Although the 1997 evaluation conducted by the MOEYC of the Prevention Education Programme (PEP) indicated some success in presenting drug awareness concepts and skills it is evident, however, that a revised programme is necessary to ensure relevance.

2. Focus On All Levels Of The System:

   The scope of the programme will be national to include all types of institutions.

3. In-Service With Compulsion:

   The degree of compulsion e.g. participation would most likely ensure a higher level of involvement

4. A More Student-Centered Approach To The Programme

   The first phase activities equipped teachers and guidance counsellors with information. Now, the programme will seek to provide students with access to reliable sources of information, an understanding of low-risk and high-risk practices, opportunities to consider how drug problems might be reduced, and the scope to discuss and debate issues with adults and peers.

5. Integration/Infusion Into Core-Curriculum And Sub- Programmes

   Although prevention education (substance abuse) has been written into some core-subjects, greater efforts will continue to get regular classroom teachers to understand the infusion and integration methodology and to use same in promoting the healthy lifestyle approach.

6. Strengthening Of The Community Component Of The Programme.

   The prevention effort must be backed by similar community efforts to ensure success. The PEP will attempt to collaborate with related programmes e.g. parenting, H/FLE, community development, to ensure the necessary support.

7. Profiling PEP

   The policy statement developed by the MOEYC in 1990 will be revisited using the consultative approach. This is aimed at achieving greater ownership of the programme