An Opinion-editorial by Rachna Singh, Minister of Education and Child Care, on recent discovery of Drug-snorting gear left for students after presentation at Cowichan Valley school
As a parent of two, there is nothing more important to me than the well-being of my children. I feel every child should grow up with a secure sense of well-being and safety, and as B.C.’s Minister of Education and Child Care, this is my highest priority and the highest priority of my ministry. There is absolutely nothing more precious than our children, and we all should make sure that their school environment is safe and favorable for their growth.
For the past little while, we have all been hearing about the impacts of the toxic drug crisis on every community across Canada, and how substance use has become a real concern. This remains front and center for us and we continue to take comprehensive measures to safeguard students and their spaces.
There is absolutely no place for drugs in schools. These substances remain strictly prohibited on school or childcare property, and this is enforceable by law. Education is critical in giving children the tools to understand the risks of drug use, so they can make choices that keep themselves safe.
As a mother myself, I would be upset as well if a substance use kit, not appropriate for school-aged students, was left behind by an external presenter, like it was recently at a Cowichan Valley school. While research shows prevention and education are powerful tools for keeping youth safe and preventing substance use, this incident was not appropriate in this learning environment. The Cowichan Valley School District has issued an apology to the community, and I can confirm they have launched an investigation.
The Province has always discouraged youth from using any substance and continues to do so. B.C.’s Physical and Health Education (PHE) curriculum covers substance use prevention and harm reduction, in which the risks are explained to students. School districts, schools and educators are responsible for resources used in classrooms and ensuring they meet B.C.’s curriculum and safety standards.
It is expected that facilitators and resources used by school districts are aligned with the learning standards of B.C.’s curriculum and, importantly, that the resources and learning are age appropriate. We remain committed to supporting school districts in preventing substance use, and providing interventions and the education necessary so students know the risks of using substances.
My Ministry continues to have discussions with education partners to ensure that school districts and educators have a clear understanding of policies regarding the selection and use of learning resources, including those provided by outside experts. We are committed to raising awareness of the importance of providing age-appropriate content and resources to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
Additionally, to support children and youth, our government is investing nearly $175 million for mental health supports in schools to make mental health wellness and substance use prevention programs and services an integral part of our education system.
These supports are a part of our strategy to make sure our children have the resources they need to do their best. Provincial websites like erase (Expect Respect and a Safe Education) are also great resources for students, educators and families on mental health and well-being, and the risks of substance use: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/erase.
We are also working to educate students on the risks of using tobacco and vaping. In 2020, the government implemented the youth vaping prevention action plan to help reduce the number of youth and young adults vaping in B.C.
With provincial support, the B.C. Lung Association has also created and distributed a youth vaping prevention toolkit to all K-12 schools. In Surrey for example, I know the School District is focusing on proactive measures such as educating students on the dangers of vaping, providing counselling and support services for those who are struggling with addiction, and educating and enforcing consequences for those who violate the policy.
These are only some of the measures that we have brought in to ensure the well-being and safety of our students, so they may grow and learn in a healthy environment. We know that there is more that can be done, and I assure you that our government will continue to support school communities and partners on initiatives to keep students safe and healthy.
