TOBACCO has been described as the worst kind of serial killer known to mankind and we welcome the further steps being taken locally to reduce its casualties.
An important step unveiled recently was the announcement by Education Minister, Mr. Shaik Baksh, that strong disciplinary action will be taken against teachers found smoking in school.

He issued the warning at a well-attended programme convened at the Cyril Potter College of Education, Turkeyen Campus, to observe ‘World No Tobacco’ Day.

The health dangers of smoking are well-known but it is important that the message of what tobacco can do is drummed into particularly young people.

Teachers smoking in and around schools are not a good role model for their students and the authorities deserve commendation for taking a strong stand against this practice.

Teachers should set the example for students by their conduct and this could help reduce peer pressure against smoking and other bad habits by young people.

Minister Baksh rightly urged teachers to be good ambassadors and to strive to promote healthy life styles, positive attitudes, values and behaviour, in and out of their classrooms.

He said, too, that concerted attempts will be made to get private schools on board the campaign to stop smoking in their immediate school environment.

The partnership between the Education Ministry and the Ministry of Health to tackle this issue and other health-related concerns should help drive the campaign and non-government organisations and civic society should lose no time in collaborating.

Mr. Baksh has correctly underlined the importance of health and family life education in the schools’ curriculum and announced that the programme will be piloted in 30 schools from September.

Health Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, summed it all up nicely. “We have to say enough is enough. All smokers stop now, and all non-smokers do not start. We have to be agents of change.”

It is imperative for teachers to join the campaign to discourage persons from using tobacco.
The authorities should also try to ensure that vendors around schools do not offer cigarettes for sale as easy availability could work against the well-intentioned campaign.
Tobacco use leads most commonly to diseases affecting the heart and lungs, with smoking being a major risk factor for heart attacks, strokes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, and cancer (particularly lung cancer, cancers of the larynx and mouth, and pancreatic cancer).
Noteworthy, too, is the point made by Mr. Baksh that his ministry has also adopted a zero tolerance approach to sex, the use of drugs, weapons and alcohol in schools.
He said efforts are being made to strengthen the reporting system in schools to promptly arrest and dissuade these activities within the school system.
These are important steps to make schools better environments for learning and for inculcating beneficial habits and outlooks for the future generations.