Fourteen pupils at a primary school in Faure, some as young as six, have been identified as drug and alcohol users by education authorities.
The Cape Argus visited the school earlier this month after teachers raised concerns that pupils were smoking tik and dagga and drinking alcohol before class.
The teachers said the children's erratic behaviour and mood swings were making it increasingly difficult to deal with them.
The Western Cape Education Department has been in talks with its Safer Schools programme, as well as the school social worker, to decide on what needs to be done to address this problem.
An initial assessment by a social worker identified nine children who may be at risk.
The spokeswoman for Education MEC Donald Grant, Bronagh Casey, said the school was still being evaluated.
"We have made a preliminary assessment of the learners originally reported to the (department).
"A second group of learners have been identified since then. There are now 14 learners who are believed to be at risk. They are between the ages of six and 12 years," said Casey.
She said officials had met the pupils' parents.
At a meeting last week it was decided that "an intervention strategy" would focus on the pupils and their parents and include home visit, said Casey.
A teacher at the school said there were "clear signs" that the drug and alcohol problems started at home.
"It's fine to work with the kids, but you need to work with the parents as well," said the teacher.
Casey said: "The South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (Sanca), Child Welfare and the police will also be involved."
She said police were investigating from whom the pupils bought drugs.
The principal, who has been in the post for 12 years, had earlier told the Cape Argus that her staff had repeatedly summoned parents to discuss their children's drug use, but "most of the parents (of these children) also (use drugs)".
- Cape Argus
The Cape Argus visited the school earlier this month after teachers raised concerns that pupils were smoking tik and dagga and drinking alcohol before class.
The teachers said the children's erratic behaviour and mood swings were making it increasingly difficult to deal with them.
The Western Cape Education Department has been in talks with its Safer Schools programme, as well as the school social worker, to decide on what needs to be done to address this problem.
An initial assessment by a social worker identified nine children who may be at risk.
The spokeswoman for Education MEC Donald Grant, Bronagh Casey, said the school was still being evaluated.
"We have made a preliminary assessment of the learners originally reported to the (department).
"A second group of learners have been identified since then. There are now 14 learners who are believed to be at risk. They are between the ages of six and 12 years," said Casey.
She said officials had met the pupils' parents.
At a meeting last week it was decided that "an intervention strategy" would focus on the pupils and their parents and include home visit, said Casey.
A teacher at the school said there were "clear signs" that the drug and alcohol problems started at home.
"It's fine to work with the kids, but you need to work with the parents as well," said the teacher.
Casey said: "The South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (Sanca), Child Welfare and the police will also be involved."
She said police were investigating from whom the pupils bought drugs.
The principal, who has been in the post for 12 years, had earlier told the Cape Argus that her staff had repeatedly summoned parents to discuss their children's drug use, but "most of the parents (of these children) also (use drugs)".
- Cape Argus
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