Education Ministry: No rampant drug trade in ECCE and primary schools

In a press release, the ministry strongly cautioned individuals and organisations against making unsubstantiated claims about the nation’s schools as these statements can be deemed libellous and would be dealt with accordingly.

The ministry the statement made by Eshean Arjoon, CEO of Mothers Against Drug Abuse, is unsubstantiated and can cause unwarranted concern throughout the country “The ministry treats with all reports of drugs in schools through the principals, Student Support Services division, School Supervision division and the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service. The Ministry of Education underscores that no report or information has been received from the Mothers Against Drug Abuse organisation.” The ministry said it also wished to inform the public that no organisation or individual is permitted to enter a school compound and engage with students without the approval of the chief education officer. The ministry said any organisation given such approval and which also wishes to interview students must get permission from parents.

“Such reports would be received at the office of the chief education officer which has oversight of the ministry’s ECCE, Student Support Services and School Supervision divisions which have all explicitly stated that no such correspondence has been received.”