Bhisho High launches a teenage against drug abuse (11 February 2013); Eastern Cape Department of Education

Bhisho High launches a teenage against drug abuse

Posted on Monday, 11 February 2013
Article by Malibongwe Mtima

A Teenage Against Drug Abuse (TADA) campaign by the Eastern Cape Education department to create an awareness and drug abuse prevention, is in full swing provincially. Recently, Bhisho high school launched a branch of this club, through formulating a committee to handle all issues relating to this issue in the school.

This TADA committee comprises of learners from various grades but who share a common goal of seeing a drug-free society. Despite the fact that complex issues relating to drugs are mostly handled by parents, Bhisho High learners are doing it for themselves through a theme “Anything about us is from us”.

TADA’s provincial co-ordinator, Cecilia Osei-Agyakwa oversees that all schools in the province become tobacco, alcohol and drug-free zones for healthy teaching and learning.

Additionally, the club members are to become ambassadors in the fight against drugs in schools, hence they receive training that will help them to identify learners experimenting different drugs. These ambassadors provide the drug experimenters with information about the dangers of using and misusing drugs. Apart from the informative sessions, these drug experimenting learners are also referred to nearby institutions for help.

The training also enables them to go to other schools advocating to their peers about dangers of drugs to their studies.

TADA club members are also expected to write monthly and quarterly reports about their schools with the support from the Life Orientation educator. Local stations of the South African Police Service (SAPS) are also involved as they conduct “search and seizure” to identified culprits. Two learners from the club are also selected as Police Commanders.

The TADA campaign is also linked to the national School Safety programme which oversees drug testing and awareness.

Bhisho High Tada Members

Name & Surname

Contact

Position

Genene Qaqamba

Chairperson

Nonkonyana Zimkhitha

0735643963

Deputy Chairperson

Damoyi Siphokhazi

0734052328

Secretary

Ntsolongo Luxolo