Dowerglen High to sniff out drugs at school

Dowerglen High School partnered with Counterpoint Risk Security (CPR) to curb narcotic use by learners.

The school will receive a trained detection dog to detect drugs, specifically marijuana and edibles.

According to principal Dr Larry Harmer, learners using these substances concerns the school.

“We have investigated and taken it to a different level at Dowerglen.

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“The number of learners caught is ridiculous,” said Harmer.

He said they caught learners selling space cookies and gummies at school.

“This is not good for the community or the school. I think the influence spreading to learners in younger grades is of greatest concern.”

Harmer believes regular users sell the narcotics and that others who have not tried them are now experimenting.

“I don’t think it only happens at Dowerglen. I think there has been a recent explosion of this issue at all schools.”

When Harmer was the principal of Edenvale High School, he used a similar method to reduce narcotics on school property.

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Harmer said because of its success at Edenvale High, he would use a similar one at Dowerglen.

“For lack of a better word, we need to stop the ‘rot’ amongst our youth.”

Harmer said according to information received from the police, the use of edibles by learners had grown in the Edenvale area.

Dowerglen High School staff member Nuno Morais said it had become a pandemic.

Harmer said the only way to curb this problem was to bring in specialists who knew what they were doing and to use a detection dog full-time.

“If learners get caught dealing, it will be immediate expulsion pending a disciplinary hearing.”

However, if learners are caught with narcotics or test positive for them, they will be suspended and face a formal disciplinary hearing.

Harmer said everything the school had done aligned with the Gauteng Department of Education.

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Since the school became aware of the problem, Harmer said an advantage was that some learners had come forward and told the staff what was going on.

“That is the new dynamic at this school. The learners are not worried about the backlash they might face from their peers.

“They are prepared to come forward and say they like the changes that occurred at Dowerglen and they do the right thing.”

Harmer believes that although this is not a new problem, staff never had the support or procedures to assist them.

A staff member assisting Harmer in reducing the problem said educators and staff felt better equipped to deal with learners suspected of being high or found with substances.

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“We now know we have the backup we need,” said the staff member.

Damian van Breda of CPR Security said starting a relationship with Dowerglen was amazing.

“Everything starts at a foundation level, and I believe that is at the schools.

“The youth are the best place to start, and if we can make a difference in school, we will make a greater impact later on,” said Van Breda.

He said it was an honour to work with the school.

Because the dog the school intends to use, a Malinois named Mayhem, is still in training, the school will get another one for searches in the interim.

CPR dog handler and trainer Jan Kotze said Mayhem will be trained to search various areas where learners might hide substances.

“As a school, we want to send productive learners into society so development occurs.

“Our governing body is behind the project, we have the support of parents, and we appeal to the greater community for their support,” said Harmer.