Anti-drug curriculum in government schools soon

Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains on Monday said his government would introduce an anti-drug curriculum for students of Classes IX to XII in all state-run schools as part of ongoing drive against drugs.

He said AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will unveil it on August 1 at Arniwala in Fazilka district.

He said the curriculum had been created by Nobel Laureate Prof Abhijit Banerjee-led organisation J-PAL South Asia.

The minister said it would empower around 8 lakh students with prevention-focused skills to combat substance abuse.

The curriculum will consist of 35-minute sessions, to be held every fortnight for 27 weeks, and will feature a mix of engaging content, including documentaries, quizzes, posters and interactive activities. These sessions will focus on key areas such as myth-busting, refusal strategies, and resisting peer pressure. The programme will cover 3,658 schools.