Alarming increase in problem students this year, education officer tells drugs symposium [1]
Friday, October 8, 2021 - 19:16
By Eleanor Gee
Problematic students in Tonga, including absentees, have increased alarmingly in 2021 compared to 2020, Deputy CEO Ministry of Education, Kalafitoni Latu said during his presentation at the Tonga National Symposium on Illicit Drugs on October 6.
Data from the Ministry shows the number of problematic students increased from 461 in 2020 to 637 this year, including drop outs, absenteeism and getting drunk and/or smoking.
“The students that are absent from school are more likely to be vulnerable to the illicit drug problem,” he said during his presentation at the Domestic Wharf.
“There is a percentage of children that don’t come to school. There is roll-call every day at schools twice a day to capture attendance. We collect this information to see what is happening.”
Kalafitoni said 43% of these students are drop outs who are very vulnerable to illicit drugs, 47% are absent a lot from school, while 10% get drunk, smoke and misbehave.
Around 42% of these students are from broken homes, 36% drop out due to finance, while 22% drop out due to other social problems such as peer pressure, consuming alcohol and tobacco, as well as inhaling glue, thinners, and benzene.
For students who drop out due to financial problems, Kalafitoni said the Ministry of Internal Affairs is helping them with finances to ensure they go back to school.
Broken homes alarming
Kalafitoni said the social and broken homes percentages are very alarming.
“We have to reach out to these homes to keep the illicit drugs problem at bay. If not we will just be working above this level.”
“We need to pay particular attention to these figures. This is not just a job for the Ministry of Education and Training, This is a job is for everyone. If we can stop these numbers, it will ease the pressure on the Police,” he said.
“I ask everyone, if you know of any child that is not going to school, to protect them from going down the drug path, they need to come to school.”
"Every child in Tonga between the ages of 4 and 18 years has a right to quality education."
Intervention
The Ministry has intervention strategies in place to inform and keep students busy including retreats, camping, and a patrolling service.
Tertiary institutions including ECE, TVET, and Ako Tu’uloa have also been set up to help educate students who have dropped out of school.
Ministry of Education and Training CEO, Tangikina Steen, said a pilot project for Ako Tu’uloa (non-faith based) for school drop outs started with 20 students.
“The school is free to give these students a second chance.”
She said last year 120 students joined the program.
“If numbers increase next year to 300. We have to find some money, and some teachers.”