Students Turning Up 'High' in Class

Students are turning up to class high on methamphetamine, with some confessing their drug use during school counselling sessions-triggering alarm across Fiji's education sector and calls for urgent military involvement.

More than 3000 drug-related incidents have been recorded in schools so far last year, with five students admitting to trying meth or "ice", the National Substance Abuse Advisory Council (NSAAC) revealed yesterday.

"These are just the cases we know about," said acting director Josua Naisele, warning that many more likely remain undetected.

Teacher unions say students have been seen “high” during lessons, and the Fiji Teachers Association (FTA) claims meth is now in students’ possession, with some caught bringing it to school.

“Yes, the FTA is very concerned,” said general secretary Paula Manumanunitoga.

“We’ve received reports from teachers about students found with meth. It’s out of control.”

He accused authorities of failing to stop drugs from seeping into classrooms and called for the military to step in.

“I believe the police is not doing enough. We also have these military people—let them do something about it. Because it’s really bad,” he said.

Although drug incidents have dropped slightly from 3500 in 2023 to 3041 in 2024, Mr Naisele stressed the number remains alarmingly high.

He told Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee that some students, including Year 8 pupils, had admitted to experimenting with ice and marijuana.

“The good thing is they have not reached the stage of addiction,” Mr Naisele said.

“When they open up, we try to help guide them.”

Mental health struggles are driving the trend.

“Drugs, violence, self-harm—it’s all connected to mental health,” he said.

To address this, the NSAAC will open the first school-based counselling hub in Nausori by July, with plans to expand across all nine education districts.

Opposition MPs Alvick Maharaj and Hem Chand urged mandatory counselling training for teachers, saying schools must respond more proactively.

Meanwhile, Fiji Teachers Union (FTU) general secretary Muniappa Goundar called the growing drug crisis a “disease” and warned that a nationwide strategy is urgently needed.

“It’s nothing new, but now it’s on a steady increase,” he said. “Parents must be told. They need to be reminded of their responsibilities.”

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