Education Sector Development Program - VLIR-UOS

Education Sector Development Program IV
The education sector,
as producer of a
responsible, productive,
democratic and
responsive work force
for the economy, should
be actively involved in
this call for prevention
of drugs and substance
abuses.
The physical and mental agony of withdrawal is
significant.
Families who live with drug abusers also
experience many of the effects of drug and
substance abuse. These include, among
others, increased school dropout rates,
and increased violence. Drug abuse is an
expensive habit, and has bankrupted many
families. There are high costs of treatment
and rehabilitation incurred in handling the
health and social consequential problems
due to drug abuse.
It is hard to quantify the direct cost and
implications of drug and substance abuse
in the country. However, the increase in
the number of street families, road traffic
accidents, and work related accidents and
reduced productivity are some of the costs of
drug and substance abuse. The widespread use
of substances is having debilitating effect both on
members of the economically active and also on
the school age populations.
Use of alcohol and drugs poses increased risks
in the transmission of HIV. A number of studies
have indicated the relationship between alcohol
use and increased risky sexual behavior.
At present, there is a legal narcotics controlling
body on matters of drug and substance abuse
i.e. “Drug Administration and Control Authority/
DACA” established by proclamation number
176/1999. Its mandate is limited to provision of
special licenses to import, export, manufacture,
possess or store narcotic drugs or psychotropic
substances and related.
The control of drug and substance abuse requires
multi- sectoral approach and concerted efforts of
government organizations, NGOs, communities
and others.
So the education sector, as producer of a
responsible, productive, democratic and
responsive work force for the economy, should
be actively involved in this call for prevention
of drugs and substance abuses. The different
forums of educational processes (General
Education, TVET and Higher Education)
present ample opportunity for education on
drugs and substance abuse/DSA control for
teachers and students at all educational
levels. It is strongly perceived that school and
HEI gates and /or their vicinities are vulnerable
spots to DSA. It is also a well-established fact
that the youth in school or out of school is
highly susceptible to be victimized by drug and
substance abuse/DSA. Therefore, schools and
HEIs are opportune facilities to institute strong
and effective drug and substances control
programs. Hence, the education sector should
collaborate with DACA and other agencies
as well as establish anti-narcotics units to
coordinate drug and substances abuse control
activities, which will minimize dropouts,
repetitions and violence in schools and higher
education institutions/HEIs.
Main challenges
• Substance abuse is a significant
risk for many youngsters.
• Linkage between substance abuse
and school drop-out.
• Little attention at present within
the education system to address
this issue
2. Expected program outcomes
❚
❚
❚
Governance structure for drug
and substances abuse control and
prevention established at all levels
Awareness raising programs on
drug and substanceabuse prevention
conducted
Drug and substances abuse
prevention mainstreamed
Key outcome indicators/targets
Drug and substance abuse units will be
established at all levels (MOE, REB, HEIs, WEOs
and schools)
MOE will be actively involved in the Inter
Ministerial and Technical Committee which is
established at a federal level to prevent drug
and substance abuse
Awareness programs will be conducted on the
current status of drug and substance abuse and
on the preventive measures to be taken
Main streaming strategy for drug and substance
abuse will be developed in collaboration with
DACA and other relevant agencies
Drug and substance abuse prevention will be
main streamed
DSA prevention will be included in the next
revision of curricula
3. Policy and Strategies
Ethiopia has demonstrated its commitment to
international communities to fight drug abuse
by ratifying Conventions: single convention on
narcotic drugs, 1961 as amended by the 1972
protocol amending the single convention on
narcotic drugs, 1961; convention on psychotropic
substances 1971; and United Nations convention
against illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and
psychotropic substances, 1988.
It is stated, in the health policy issued in 1993
by the then Transitional Government of Ethiopia,
88