Brenda Yufeh
19 March 2008
The exercise begins from March 26th in all secondary schools in the country.
About 44.82 per cent of students are exposed to tobacco. School environments are yet to become tobacco-free zones. This is why yesterday in Yaounde, the Secretary of State at the Ministry of Secondary Education, Catherine Abena, officially launched the national school competition on plastic arts under the theme "School free from tobacco, drugs and AIDS". The competition, which begins from March 26th in all secondary schools in the country, is aimed at helping students express their knowledge and ideas on tobacco and HIV through arts. The competition will not only render school premises free from tobacco, drugs and HIV but will enable the artistic works of students to be used as items to sensitise the school community against drugs and tobacco. Special prizes will be awarded to teachers who cease smoking.
Catherine Abena says in schools, consumers of tobacco are not only teachers and other school administrators but students as well. Several students have been involved in smoking as a result of seductive advertising messages from cigarette companies; having the spirit of being big, imitation from parents or other mates, being rebellious as a result of adolescent hood, etc. The Secretary of State says tobacco consumption constitutes a serious menace to the health of students as well as exposing them to HIV more than ever. Hence the competition is a method used by the Ministry of Secondary Education to create awareness amongst students and school administrators on the dangers of drugs, tobacco and HIV. Catherine Abena notes that this will enable the ministry to bring up students to become responsible citizens who are capable of contributing to the development of the country.
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