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Quebec Education Minister Yves Bolduc said it’s OK to strip search students suspected of concealing drugs as long as it’s done respectfully and by the book.
The comment follows a QMI Agency report that a 15-year-old female student at Neufchatel High School in Quebec City said two female school officials last Thursday forced her to strip down completely so they could search her clothes because they suspected she was selling drugs. She said she asked to call her mother before the search but was denied. The girl said she was humiliated.
The De la Capitale School Board said it was satisfied proper protocols were followed, including no physical contact with the student.
No drugs were found.
On Tuesday, Bolduc declined to comment on the specific case.
“There are reasons it may be necessary for staff to search students, but what’s important here is that they respect the law…as well as it is done with respect for the person,” he said.
Parti Quebecois public safety critic Pascal Berube said strip-searches are demeaning and inappropriate.
“It is not the role of school staff to do strip searches – we are not in Guantanamo,” the MNA for Matane said.
Agencies/Canadajournal
