CREP Africa warns against turning teachers into drug enforcement officers

The Centre for Research and Education Policy (CREP Africa) has cautioned the government against assigning teachers responsibilities that effectively turn them into drug enforcement officers, arguing that such a move could expose educators to unnecessary risks and undermine their core mandate.

In a statement, the education policy advocacy group acknowledged that tackling drug abuse among young people is a national priority requiring urgent attention. However, it expressed concern over what it described as a growing tendency to shift every emerging social challenge onto teachers.

According to CREP Africa, teachers are trained to educate, mentor, and support learners, not to serve as security officers, narcotics agents, or law enforcement personnel.

The organisation warned that expecting teachers to search students or confront suspected drug related activities without the necessary legal protection, specialised training, security backing, and logistical support could place their safety at risk.

CREP Africa questioned the role of existing security arrangements in schools, asking why teachers should be expected to perform duties that should ordinarily fall within the mandate of security personnel and other state agencies.

It also raised concerns about the effectiveness of current screening mechanisms at school entrances and called on the Ministry of Education to clarify the responsibilities of security personnel stationed at school gates. In addition, the group stressed the need for parents and guardians to play a more active role in monitoring the behaviour and belongings of their children.

The policy think tank warned that teachers who attempt to inspect students' belongings or intervene in suspected drug related incidents could face resistance, false accusations, harassment, or even physical attacks.

It questioned whether the Ministry of Education had adequately considered the safety and welfare of teachers before assigning them such sensitive responsibilities.

CREP Africa further argued that teachers are already burdened with large class sizes, inadequate teaching and learning resources, administrative responsibilities, and challenging working conditions. Adding security enforcement duties, it said, would only worsen the pressures facing educators.

The organisation maintained that if government believes drug trafficking has infiltrated educational institutions, the response should involve stronger collaboration among the Ministry of Education, security agencies, the Narcotics Control Commission, school authorities, parents, and local communities.

While recognising that teachers have an important role to play in prevention, awareness creation, and guidance, CREP Africa insisted that they should not be expected to perform the functions of police officers or narcotics personnel.

The group also urged the Ministry of Education to stop treating teachers as the solution to every challenge confronting the education sector, stressing that safeguarding students also requires protecting teachers.

CREP Africa therefore called for the development of a comprehensive policy framework that clearly defines institutional responsibilities, strengthens security support in schools, protects teachers from unnecessary risks, and ensures that educators are not unfairly burdened with responsibilities beyond their professional mandate.