THE Government has announced plans to carry out random urine tests in primary and secondary schools to catch drug users.
At the same time, the Education Ministry will extend its anti-drugs message to include kindergartens.
The moves reflect growing concern in the Government over the rising number of drug addicts - many in their teens or early 20s - which has led to overcrowding and rioting in centres where arrested users are confined for rehabilitation.
Johan Shamsuddin, director of the Home Ministry's anti-drugs taskforce, which will conduct the tests in conjunction with the Education Ministry, said there would be an 'element of surprise'.
'We will pick a school and just go in,' he warned.
He said the taskforce had already made some trial tests and would launch an intensified programme as soon as it acquired additional equipment.
Deputy Education Minister, Dr Fong Chan Onn, said each year an average of 200 students were found to be involved with drugs in schools.
