Alleging that the drug menace has crept into even the most secure establishments in the state, educationist Prashant Naik on Friday said it was unrealistic to believe that schools and colleges would remain untouched. Addressing the media, he pointed out that if narcotics had already infiltrated the Colvale Central Jail, there was no reason to assume that educational campuses were immune from such problems.
Naik was reacting to the rising concerns over the recent student deaths in South Goa, which have triggered outrage among parents, activists, and the civil society. He demanded that South Goa Collector Egna Cletus must conduct a thorough and impartial inquiry into all five deaths that have occurred in the recent past, and not confine the investigation only to the most recent tragedy. According to him, a piecemeal approach would neither bring justice to the affected families nor help in uncovering the larger network contributing to such incidents.
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The educationist further criticized the way institutes currently handle student discipline and engagement. He observed that there was immense pressure on youngsters, particularly because they are often compelled to summon their parents to campuses for what he described as “silly reasons.” Such practices, Naik said, only create additional stress and strain on the students instead of addressing the real challenges they face, ranging from academic pressure to vulnerability to external influences like drugs.
Naik stressed the importance of shifting the focus from punitive measures to preventive and supportive strategies. He called for accountability from institutions as well as robust monitoring mechanisms to ensure that campuses remain safe spaces for learning. “When drugs enter jails, we should not be surprised when they enter schools and colleges. What is needed is not denial but urgent action,” he remarked.
