By Michel Outridge

THE GUYANA Police Force (GPF) ‘D’ Division, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education of Region 3, on Friday hosted a graduation ceremony for 100 students who successfully completely a 17-week Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) project at Uitvlugt Secondary School, West Coast Demerara.Head Teacher of Uitvlugt Secondary School, Shivaughn Cadogan, said the promoters of the programme were most pleased with the results garnered. The programme is to be introduced in the school, targeting Grade 7 pupils.

She added that parents send their children to school to prepare them for self-development, and more than 120 students between the ages of 10 and 13 years old have enrolled in the programme.

Cadogan said the DARE project lasted for 17 weeks, during which students were educated to resist the pressures of drug use and abuse, and were taught how to influence fellow students to so desist. She said that with the knowledge gained, the students will be able to say no to substance abuse.

Cadogan explained that the school attracted students who did not do well at Common Entrance exams. They were placed in that school, but the course was able to enlighten them on the scourge of drug use and abuse.

With their newfound knowledge, pupils can make informed choices and not fall into temptation to use drugs, she said.

Woman Lance Corporal Jan Lovell, giving the course overview, said the 17-week DARE project launched at the Uitvlugt Secondary School taught certain subjects for one hour per week. The objectives of the programme were to make students aware of what is drugs, how to say no to its negative influences, how to build their self-esteem, and how to live a drug and violence-free life.

Lovell added that the DARE project was also launched at the Vreed-en-Hoop Secondary School, from where 58 students graduated, and it was done in eight secondary schools in total so far, targeting Grade 7 pupils.

Commander Stephen Mansell said he was very pleased that the collaborated effort was able to graduate more than 100 students after they had completed the 17-week DARE project aimed at educating them about drug abuse and the harmful effects of nicotine (cigarettes), alcohol, cannabis sativa (marijuana) and cocaine.

The Senior Police Superintendent pointed out that the DARE project was geared towards equipping students to say no to friendly teasing, indirect peer pressure, and the use of drugs generally; and to say no to drugs and yes to life.

After the short ceremony, the students were presented with their certificates of completion, and they expressed gratitude to the Guyana Police Force and the Ministry of Education for facilitating the DARE project.