Education Minister Urges Students to Stop Smoking

Students engaged in smoking are being discouraged from doing so by Education Minister, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites.

The Minister voiced his concern over the issue while delivering his 2015/16 Sectoral Debate presentation in the House of Representatives, on April 15, under the theme: ‘Education – Adding Value to Lives’.

Rev. Thwaites said the Ministry had received reports that students at several schools engaging in the practice, have been using ganja.

“We have reports from some high school principals, as to (its) effect on those students who feel that they can use ganja, in order to help them to do better in their studies. We have to state very clearly, in this House, that ganja is not for school children, and smoking is not to be permitted in any school. We need to make sure that our children are taught to behave themselves, and taught to respect themselves, and others,” he said.

The Minister also urged parliamentarians to be more integrally involved in the educational development of youngsters in their constituencies, stressing that “Members of Parliament should be assessed, on the basis of their commitment to their constituents’ education.”

“(The attainment of) a good education is the ultimate people’s test… education which adds value (and) balances people’s lives,” Rev. Thwaites argued.