Empowering educators: addressing drug abuse among students in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges

Addressing drug abuse is crucial in South Africa, especially in Technical and Vocational Education. This study examines educator training for managing student substance abuse. The study utilised a non-experimental quantitative exploratory design, surveying all 337 educators from selected Technical and Vocational Education and Training colleges in South Africa's Limpopo Province. The study discovered that educators consistently linked certain behaviours with suspected student drug abuse, facilitating early identification. However, there was notable diversity in how educators proposed handling students with suspected drug abuse, with a significant portion lacking training in this area. The research highlighted varying perspectives on the significance of educator-student relationships. It points out the crucial need for comprehensive training for Technical and Vocational Education and Training college educators in addressing student drug abuse. The findings provide a foundation for future research and interventions in this domain, not only in South Africa but also in similar educational settings globally.