Govt ponders school drug tests
10/10/2006 20:03  - (SA)  

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Cape Town - After introducing metal detectors and security guards in schools, the government said on Tuesday it also could resort to random drug tests to stem playground violence.

Education Minister Naledi Pandor told parliament she was "seriously considering" the proposal.

She said: "I believe the impact of drugs may be what is leading to the psychotic kind of conduct we are seeing on the part of some children in our schools."

There have been several incidents of violence in schools recently with two pupils stabbed to death, a girl shot in the leg in class and a high-school student in hospital with concussion after a fight about a cellphone.

'Need better moral grounding'

Concern has been expressed over high numbers of girls raped or sexually abused at school.

"There is something wrong with our society," said Pandor, adding that children need to be given a better moral grounding at home.

"Why is it that our children believe they can carry a gun on to school grounds ... why (do) they carry a sharp weapon?

"What is it that makes a boy of 16 beat a child to within an inch of his life for a cellphone?

"It is something that we must address within our communities, within our families. We need to change the violent nature of our society."

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