Teachers urged to join antidrug drive

Teachers urged to join antidrug drive

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso called on some 6,000 teachers
and school principals on Thursday to participate in a massive
antidrug campaign across the capital.

Speaking in front of the audience at the Senayan basketball
hall in Central Jakarta, the governor also asked the teachers to
take stern measures against students who use drugs.

Sutiyoso suggested the teachers regularly inspect students'
bags and wallets for any drugs.

"Once a week at different times, you have to check your
students' bags and wallets," he told the meeting.

The retired three-star general expressed concern over reported
drug trafficking at elementary schools in the city.

He urged the teachers and school principals to cooperate with
the public and police to help cut the distribution link of the
drugs in the capital.

"Are you ready to join together to fight against drugs?" He
ask the teachers.

"Ready!" replied the teachers.

Besides talking about drugs, the governor also called on the
audience to help stop student brawls, which have claimed dozens
of lives and damaged hundreds of buses in the city.

"Do not let your students die meaninglessly," Sutiyoso, who
claims his father was an elementary school principal, said.

Separately, head of the city office of the Ministry of
Education and Culture Alwi Nurdin said his office had discovered
that at least 50 students from 18 junior and senior high schools
had taken drugs.

"Some of the students were seriously addicted," Alwi said
without giving further details. (jun)