Mandatory drug Testing in schools, illegal, an added burden to students, parents -Maza

Gabriela Women's Party Representative Liza Maza today said proposals to impose drug tests in schools are illegal and unconstitutional and may pose an additional burden to parents and students.
"Mandatory drug tests for students can and will violate the rights to privacy of minors and children. Moreover it may entail unnecessary additional costs for parents at this time of financial and economic difficulty. Making these drug tests mandatory for students is unnecessary in the campaign against drugs."

According to Maza, Section 36 of the Dangerous Drugs Act provides only for the conduct of random drug tests only in accordance with school regulations as indicated in respective school handbooks and only after parents have been consulted. All expenses for the drug tests, whether for private or public school students are to be shouldered by the government. #