The Ministry of Education is advising parents and teachers to be vigilant and cautious as far as the safety and whereabouts of  children is concerned.

Education Minister Filipe Bole raised this concern after the recent lighting of the Coca Cola Games torch and the amount of time teachers, children and parents put into the preparations.

Bole said as the major provider of education, the Ministry continues to impress on teachers and parents that the education of children is paramount to anything else in schools.

Bole added at the end of the day, it is the tangible rewards of education that matters, that means certificates and good examinations marks from students do count, not the medals won.

He said more emphasis on sports preparation and participation is expensive and cost is not only in monetary value but in time as well.

Meanwhile, the Education Ministry is declaring “War Against Drugs and Substance” in schools.

Minister Filipe Bole has approved the National Substance Abuse Advisory Council to spearhead the proposal and the proposal is for schools to have two drug awareness programmes in a year.

Bole said part of the proposal is for school staff members to be free from drugs and other illicit substances within the school premises which includes yaqona, alcohol and cigarettes.

He added to strengthen the awareness programme, schools that meet the criteria will be awarded a Certificate of Recognition.

Bole said as incentives, schools that remain drug free for a year will be presented with a Bronze award, a Silver award for schools that remain drug free for two to four years and a Gold award for schools that remain drug free for 5 years or more.