Read the text below and answer question

Plan to test Liberian schoolchildren for drugs blocked

October 17th, 2025

By Moses Kollie Garzeawu

Monrovia, Liberia, Africa

Liberia's Education Ministry has blocked controversial plans to introduce mandatory drug testing in all of the country's schools.

Speaking to local media, the interim head of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), Fitzgerald Biago, said school testing would help address the growing problem of drug abuse.

The announcement sparked a mixed response. Some thought it would help tackle the scourge of drugs, while others saw it as an invasion of privacy, or feared it would cost too much.

Last year, President Joseph Boakai declared drug and substance abuse a national emergency and a recent EU-backed report estimated that one in five young Liberians take drugs.

However, the Education Ministry said it was not aware of any plans to test students and added that such a decision needed to be based on concrete evidence and properly thought through.

Assistant minister in charge of students Sona Toure-Sesay told the BBC that this kind of plan required proper research. "Let's assume we are made aware of the proposed initiatives by the LDEA, it will require us to conduct research and review case studies from other countries where this has been successful," she said.  

Toure-Sesay also noted that testing could affect students. "What happens to students who test positive? What are the social services in place for them? Some of them might be bullied even after returning, and it may affect their overall educational performances."

She added that a multi-sectoral committee on drug and substance abuse had been set up, headed by the Health Ministry. Along with strengthening health clubs in schools, she said that this would help to reduce the prevalence of drugs among students.

President Boakai dismissed the leadership of the LDEA in August this year, and recently appointed Biago, a former senior police officer, as interim head of the agency.

Taken from:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0mxz3x1lr7o  

Read the text below and answer question

Plan to test Liberian schoolchildren for drugs blocked

October 17th, 2025

By Moses Kollie Garzeawu

Monrovia, Liberia, Africa

Liberia's Education Ministry has blocked controversial plans to introduce mandatory drug testing in all of the country's schools.

Speaking to local media, the interim head of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), Fitzgerald Biago, said school testing would help address the growing problem of drug abuse.

The announcement sparked a mixed response. Some thought it would help tackle the scourge of drugs, while others saw it as an invasion of privacy, or feared it would cost too much.

Last year, President Joseph Boakai declared drug and substance abuse a national emergency and a recent EU-backed report estimated that one in five young Liberians take drugs.

However, the Education Ministry said it was not aware of any plans to test students and added that such a decision needed to be based on concrete evidence and properly thought through.

Assistant minister in charge of students Sona Toure-Sesay told the BBC that this kind of plan required proper research. "Let's assume we are made aware of the proposed initiatives by the LDEA, it will require us to conduct research and review case studies from other countries where this has been successful," she said.  

Toure-Sesay also noted that testing could affect students. "What happens to students who test positive? What are the social services in place for them? Some of them might be bullied even after returning, and it may affect their overall educational performances."

She added that a multi-sectoral committee on drug and substance abuse had been set up, headed by the Health Ministry. Along with strengthening health clubs in schools, she said that this would help to reduce the prevalence of drugs among students.

President Boakai dismissed the leadership of the LDEA in August this year, and recently appointed Biago, a former senior police officer, as interim head of the agency.

Taken from:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0mxz3x1lr7o  

Read the text below and answer question

Plan to test Liberian schoolchildren for drugs blocked

October 17th, 2025

By Moses Kollie Garzeawu

Monrovia, Liberia, Africa

Liberia's Education Ministry has blocked controversial plans to introduce mandatory drug testing in all of the country's schools.

Speaking to local media, the interim head of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), Fitzgerald Biago, said school testing would help address the growing problem of drug abuse.

The announcement sparked a mixed response. Some thought it would help tackle the scourge of drugs, while others saw it as an invasion of privacy, or feared it would cost too much.

Last year, President Joseph Boakai declared drug and substance abuse a national emergency and a recent EU-backed report estimated that one in five young Liberians take drugs.

However, the Education Ministry said it was not aware of any plans to test students and added that such a decision needed to be based on concrete evidence and properly thought through.

Assistant minister in charge of students Sona Toure-Sesay told the BBC that this kind of plan required proper research. "Let's assume we are made aware of the proposed initiatives by the LDEA, it will require us to conduct research and review case studies from other countries where this has been successful," she said.  

Toure-Sesay also noted that testing could affect students. "What happens to students who test positive? What are the social services in place for them? Some of them might be bullied even after returning, and it may affect their overall educational performances."

She added that a multi-sectoral committee on drug and substance abuse had been set up, headed by the Health Ministry. Along with strengthening health clubs in schools, she said that this would help to reduce the prevalence of drugs among students.

President Boakai dismissed the leadership of the LDEA in August this year, and recently appointed Biago, a former senior police officer, as interim head of the agency.

Taken from:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0mxz3x1lr7o  

Read the text below and answer question

Plan to test Liberian schoolchildren for drugs blocked

October 17th, 2025

By Moses Kollie Garzeawu

Monrovia, Liberia, Africa

Liberia's Education Ministry has blocked controversial plans to introduce mandatory drug testing in all of the country's schools.

Speaking to local media, the interim head of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), Fitzgerald Biago, said school testing would help address the growing problem of drug abuse.

The announcement sparked a mixed response. Some thought it would help tackle the scourge of drugs, while others saw it as an invasion of privacy, or feared it would cost too much.

Last year, President Joseph Boakai declared drug and substance abuse a national emergency and a recent EU-backed report estimated that one in five young Liberians take drugs.

However, the Education Ministry said it was not aware of any plans to test students and added that such a decision needed to be based on concrete evidence and properly thought through.

Assistant minister in charge of students Sona Toure-Sesay told the BBC that this kind of plan required proper research. "Let's assume we are made aware of the proposed initiatives by the LDEA, it will require us to conduct research and review case studies from other countries where this has been successful," she said.  

Toure-Sesay also noted that testing could affect students. "What happens to students who test positive? What are the social services in place for them? Some of them might be bullied even after returning, and it may affect their overall educational performances."

She added that a multi-sectoral committee on drug and substance abuse had been set up, headed by the Health Ministry. Along with strengthening health clubs in schools, she said that this would help to reduce the prevalence of drugs among students.

President Boakai dismissed the leadership of the LDEA in August this year, and recently appointed Biago, a former senior police officer, as interim head of the agency.

Taken from:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0mxz3x1lr7o  

Read the text below and answer question

Plan to test Liberian schoolchildren for drugs blocked

October 17th, 2025

By Moses Kollie Garzeawu

Monrovia, Liberia, Africa

Liberia's Education Ministry has blocked controversial plans to introduce mandatory drug testing in all of the country's schools.

Speaking to local media, the interim head of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), Fitzgerald Biago, said school testing would help address the growing problem of drug abuse.

The announcement sparked a mixed response. Some thought it would help tackle the scourge of drugs, while others saw it as an invasion of privacy, or feared it would cost too much.

Last year, President Joseph Boakai declared drug and substance abuse a national emergency and a recent EU-backed report estimated that one in five young Liberians take drugs.

However, the Education Ministry said it was not aware of any plans to test students and added that such a decision needed to be based on concrete evidence and properly thought through.

Assistant minister in charge of students Sona Toure-Sesay told the BBC that this kind of plan required proper research. "Let's assume we are made aware of the proposed initiatives by the LDEA, it will require us to conduct research and review case studies from other countries where this has been successful," she said.  

Toure-Sesay also noted that testing could affect students. "What happens to students who test positive? What are the social services in place for them? Some of them might be bullied even after returning, and it may affect their overall educational performances."

She added that a multi-sectoral committee on drug and substance abuse had been set up, headed by the Health Ministry. Along with strengthening health clubs in schools, she said that this would help to reduce the prevalence of drugs among students.

President Boakai dismissed the leadership of the LDEA in August this year, and recently appointed Biago, a former senior police officer, as interim head of the agency.

Taken from:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0mxz3x1lr7o  

Read the text below and answer question

Plan to test Liberian schoolchildren for drugs blocked

October 17th, 2025

By Moses Kollie Garzeawu

Monrovia, Liberia, Africa

Liberia's Education Ministry has blocked controversial plans to introduce mandatory drug testing in all of the country's schools.

Speaking to local media, the interim head of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), Fitzgerald Biago, said school testing would help address the growing problem of drug abuse.

The announcement sparked a mixed response. Some thought it would help tackle the scourge of drugs, while others saw it as an invasion of privacy, or feared it would cost too much.

Last year, President Joseph Boakai declared drug and substance abuse a national emergency and a recent EU-backed report estimated that one in five young Liberians take drugs.

However, the Education Ministry said it was not aware of any plans to test students and added that such a decision needed to be based on concrete evidence and properly thought through.

Assistant minister in charge of students Sona Toure-Sesay told the BBC that this kind of plan required proper research. "Let's assume we are made aware of the proposed initiatives by the LDEA, it will require us to conduct research and review case studies from other countries where this has been successful," she said.  

Toure-Sesay also noted that testing could affect students. "What happens to students who test positive? What are the social services in place for them? Some of them might be bullied even after returning, and it may affect their overall educational performances."

She added that a multi-sectoral committee on drug and substance abuse had been set up, headed by the Health Ministry. Along with strengthening health clubs in schools, she said that this would help to reduce the prevalence of drugs among students.

President Boakai dismissed the leadership of the LDEA in August this year, and recently appointed Biago, a former senior police officer, as interim head of the agency.

Taken from:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0mxz3x1lr7o  

Read the text below and answer question

Plan to test Liberian schoolchildren for drugs blocked

October 17th, 2025

By Moses Kollie Garzeawu

Monrovia, Liberia, Africa

Liberia's Education Ministry has blocked controversial plans to introduce mandatory drug testing in all of the country's schools.

Speaking to local media, the interim head of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), Fitzgerald Biago, said school testing would help address the growing problem of drug abuse.

The announcement sparked a mixed response. Some thought it would help tackle the scourge of drugs, while others saw it as an invasion of privacy, or feared it would cost too much.

Last year, President Joseph Boakai declared drug and substance abuse a national emergency and a recent EU-backed report estimated that one in five young Liberians take drugs.

However, the Education Ministry said it was not aware of any plans to test students and added that such a decision needed to be based on concrete evidence and properly thought through.

Assistant minister in charge of students Sona Toure-Sesay told the BBC that this kind of plan required proper research. "Let's assume we are made aware of the proposed initiatives by the LDEA, it will require us to conduct research and review case studies from other countries where this has been successful," she said.  

Toure-Sesay also noted that testing could affect students. "What happens to students who test positive? What are the social services in place for them? Some of them might be bullied even after returning, and it may affect their overall educational performances."

She added that a multi-sectoral committee on drug and substance abuse had been set up, headed by the Health Ministry. Along with strengthening health clubs in schools, she said that this would help to reduce the prevalence of drugs among students.

President Boakai dismissed the leadership of the LDEA in August this year, and recently appointed Biago, a former senior police officer, as interim head of the agency.

Taken from:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0mxz3x1lr7o  

Read the text below and answer question

Plan to test Liberian schoolchildren for drugs blocked

October 17th, 2025

By Moses Kollie Garzeawu

Monrovia, Liberia, Africa

Liberia's Education Ministry has blocked controversial plans to introduce mandatory drug testing in all of the country's schools.

Speaking to local media, the interim head of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), Fitzgerald Biago, said school testing would help address the growing problem of drug abuse.

The announcement sparked a mixed response. Some thought it would help tackle the scourge of drugs, while others saw it as an invasion of privacy, or feared it would cost too much.

Last year, President Joseph Boakai declared drug and substance abuse a national emergency and a recent EU-backed report estimated that one in five young Liberians take drugs.

However, the Education Ministry said it was not aware of any plans to test students and added that such a decision needed to be based on concrete evidence and properly thought through.

Assistant minister in charge of students Sona Toure-Sesay told the BBC that this kind of plan required proper research. "Let's assume we are made aware of the proposed initiatives by the LDEA, it will require us to conduct research and review case studies from other countries where this has been successful," she said.  

Toure-Sesay also noted that testing could affect students. "What happens to students who test positive? What are the social services in place for them? Some of them might be bullied even after returning, and it may affect their overall educational performances."

She added that a multi-sectoral committee on drug and substance abuse had been set up, headed by the Health Ministry. Along with strengthening health clubs in schools, she said that this would help to reduce the prevalence of drugs among students.

President Boakai dismissed the leadership of the LDEA in August this year, and recently appointed Biago, a former senior police officer, as interim head of the agency.

Taken from:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0mxz3x1lr7o  

Read the text below and answer question

Plan to test Liberian schoolchildren for drugs blocked

October 17th, 2025

By Moses Kollie Garzeawu

Monrovia, Liberia, Africa

Liberia's Education Ministry has blocked controversial plans to introduce mandatory drug testing in all of the country's schools.

Speaking to local media, the interim head of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), Fitzgerald Biago, said school testing would help address the growing problem of drug abuse.

The announcement sparked a mixed response. Some thought it would help tackle the scourge of drugs, while others saw it as an invasion of privacy, or feared it would cost too much.

Last year, President Joseph Boakai declared drug and substance abuse a national emergency and a recent EU-backed report estimated that one in five young Liberians take drugs.

However, the Education Ministry said it was not aware of any plans to test students and added that such a decision needed to be based on concrete evidence and properly thought through.

Assistant minister in charge of students Sona Toure-Sesay told the BBC that this kind of plan required proper research. "Let's assume we are made aware of the proposed initiatives by the LDEA, it will require us to conduct research and review case studies from other countries where this has been successful," she said.  

Toure-Sesay also noted that testing could affect students. "What happens to students who test positive? What are the social services in place for them? Some of them might be bullied even after returning, and it may affect their overall educational performances."

She added that a multi-sectoral committee on drug and substance abuse had been set up, headed by the Health Ministry. Along with strengthening health clubs in schools, she said that this would help to reduce the prevalence of drugs among students.

President Boakai dismissed the leadership of the LDEA in August this year, and recently appointed Biago, a former senior police officer, as interim head of the agency.

Taken from:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0mxz3x1lr7o  

Texto I

IA, uma inteligência que não pensa. Já pensou nisso?

Por Raphael Conceição

    O assombroso avanço tecnológico dos diversos modelos de linguagem existentes no mundo de hoje deixa à margem um debate importante sobre o que se convencionou denominar “Inteligência Artificial”.

    A discussão que tenho proposta em inúmeras palestras, oficinas e workshops e sobre o tema trata de uma região que figura entre a imprecisão e o engano do uso do termo “inteligência” para um tipo de tecnologia que não pensa, não intui, não dispõe de consciência e, se tanto, simula a atividade cerebral humana.

    É indubitável que os bots que conversam de maneira tão natural com as pessoas transmitem uma sensação de proximidade.

    Meu ponto, porém, é que essa “pessoalidade”, por assim dizer, é tão legítima quanto a “mágica” de um ilusionista que prende nossa atenção em uma de suas mãos enquanto, com a outra, realiza processos cujo resultado nos encantará com lenços que lhe saem da boca ou uma carta de baralho rasgada que volta a aparecer em um dos bolsos de sua fraque.

    É divertido ver, admito. Mas não é mágico. Assim como conversar com um sistema também me entretém. Mas não é conversa. Sob essa ótica, desmistificamos questões que inclusive atrapalham as pessoas a usufruírem mais e melhor da tecnologia de que hoje dispomos.

    Quando nos damos conta de que tudo aquilo que perguntamos, exigimos ou pesquisamos, cujas respostas nos chegam em segundos de maneira impressionante, decorrem de uma precisão estatística, matemática e padronizada, compreendemos melhor que o caminho a trilhar não é um embate IA x Humano, e sim um viés em que a dita Inteligência Artificial potencializa o que nós, pessoas, somos.

    Se de melhor ou de pior, bom, a classificação e a decisão ficam à nossa conta.

    De todo modo, medos de que as máquinas algum dia se revoltam contra nós como nas telas de cinema – ou no streaming que parece adivinhar a melhor série que combina com o meu perfil – podem ser minimizados quando aceitamos a IA tal qual ela é: poderosa em design e clara, mas desprovida de consciência ou compreensão semântica.

    A máquina avança pela nossa inteligência real e nos ajuda a automatizar tarefas repetitivas, calcular cenários em dimensões e magnitudes que são pouco obviamente impossíveis e até mesmo predizer possibilidades com altas taxas de acertos. Tudo isso sem tirar nem ameaçar o papel que nos cumpre: decisores sobre qual impacto queremos que a IA tenha em nossas vidas. 

    A TV interferiu no rádio. O digital não é impresso. O CD sem vinil. A IA, claro, vai transformar muitos aspectos da nossa vida, e nossa relação com ela moldará nosso futuro.

    A pergunta que não quer calar (Como?), porém, não deve ser direcionada ao ChatGPT ou correlatos. Quem vai responder a nós, enquanto sociedade, dentro das classes, castas e divisões a que nos submetemos (ou impomos).

    Quem sabe a gente não escolhe usar a tecnologia para um futuro mais inclusivo e menos desigual. Se é possível sonhar? Eu acredito que sim.

    Mas esse papo é para um próximo texto.

    Um abraço, entre , e até lá.

Fonte: https://www.jb.com.br/brasil/opiniao/artigos/2025/10/1057 224-ia-uma-inteligencia-que-nao-pensa-ja-pensounisso.html. Acesso em 31/10/2025. Excerto  

Texto I

IA, uma inteligência que não pensa. Já pensou nisso?

Por Raphael Conceição

    O assombroso avanço tecnológico dos diversos modelos de linguagem existentes no mundo de hoje deixa à margem um debate importante sobre o que se convencionou denominar “Inteligência Artificial”.

    A discussão que tenho proposta em inúmeras palestras, oficinas e workshops e sobre o tema trata de uma região que figura entre a imprecisão e o engano do uso do termo “inteligência” para um tipo de tecnologia que não pensa, não intui, não dispõe de consciência e, se tanto, simula a atividade cerebral humana.

    É indubitável que os bots que conversam de maneira tão natural com as pessoas transmitem uma sensação de proximidade.

    Meu ponto, porém, é que essa “pessoalidade”, por assim dizer, é tão legítima quanto a “mágica” de um ilusionista que prende nossa atenção em uma de suas mãos enquanto, com a outra, realiza processos cujo resultado nos encantará com lenços que lhe saem da boca ou uma carta de baralho rasgada que volta a aparecer em um dos bolsos de sua fraque.

    É divertido ver, admito. Mas não é mágico. Assim como conversar com um sistema também me entretém. Mas não é conversa. Sob essa ótica, desmistificamos questões que inclusive atrapalham as pessoas a usufruírem mais e melhor da tecnologia de que hoje dispomos.

    Quando nos damos conta de que tudo aquilo que perguntamos, exigimos ou pesquisamos, cujas respostas nos chegam em segundos de maneira impressionante, decorrem de uma precisão estatística, matemática e padronizada, compreendemos melhor que o caminho a trilhar não é um embate IA x Humano, e sim um viés em que a dita Inteligência Artificial potencializa o que nós, pessoas, somos.

    Se de melhor ou de pior, bom, a classificação e a decisão ficam à nossa conta.

    De todo modo, medos de que as máquinas algum dia se revoltam contra nós como nas telas de cinema – ou no streaming que parece adivinhar a melhor série que combina com o meu perfil – podem ser minimizados quando aceitamos a IA tal qual ela é: poderosa em design e clara, mas desprovida de consciência ou compreensão semântica.

    A máquina avança pela nossa inteligência real e nos ajuda a automatizar tarefas repetitivas, calcular cenários em dimensões e magnitudes que são pouco obviamente impossíveis e até mesmo predizer possibilidades com altas taxas de acertos. Tudo isso sem tirar nem ameaçar o papel que nos cumpre: decisores sobre qual impacto queremos que a IA tenha em nossas vidas. 

    A TV interferiu no rádio. O digital não é impresso. O CD sem vinil. A IA, claro, vai transformar muitos aspectos da nossa vida, e nossa relação com ela moldará nosso futuro.

    A pergunta que não quer calar (Como?), porém, não deve ser direcionada ao ChatGPT ou correlatos. Quem vai responder a nós, enquanto sociedade, dentro das classes, castas e divisões a que nos submetemos (ou impomos).

    Quem sabe a gente não escolhe usar a tecnologia para um futuro mais inclusivo e menos desigual. Se é possível sonhar? Eu acredito que sim.

    Mas esse papo é para um próximo texto.

    Um abraço, entre , e até lá.

Fonte: https://www.jb.com.br/brasil/opiniao/artigos/2025/10/1057 224-ia-uma-inteligencia-que-nao-pensa-ja-pensounisso.html. Acesso em 31/10/2025. Excerto  

Texto I

IA, uma inteligência que não pensa. Já pensou nisso?

Por Raphael Conceição

    O assombroso avanço tecnológico dos diversos modelos de linguagem existentes no mundo de hoje deixa à margem um debate importante sobre o que se convencionou denominar “Inteligência Artificial”.

    A discussão que tenho proposta em inúmeras palestras, oficinas e workshops e sobre o tema trata de uma região que figura entre a imprecisão e o engano do uso do termo “inteligência” para um tipo de tecnologia que não pensa, não intui, não dispõe de consciência e, se tanto, simula a atividade cerebral humana.

    É indubitável que os bots que conversam de maneira tão natural com as pessoas transmitem uma sensação de proximidade.

    Meu ponto, porém, é que essa “pessoalidade”, por assim dizer, é tão legítima quanto a “mágica” de um ilusionista que prende nossa atenção em uma de suas mãos enquanto, com a outra, realiza processos cujo resultado nos encantará com lenços que lhe saem da boca ou uma carta de baralho rasgada que volta a aparecer em um dos bolsos de sua fraque.

    É divertido ver, admito. Mas não é mágico. Assim como conversar com um sistema também me entretém. Mas não é conversa. Sob essa ótica, desmistificamos questões que inclusive atrapalham as pessoas a usufruírem mais e melhor da tecnologia de que hoje dispomos.

    Quando nos damos conta de que tudo aquilo que perguntamos, exigimos ou pesquisamos, cujas respostas nos chegam em segundos de maneira impressionante, decorrem de uma precisão estatística, matemática e padronizada, compreendemos melhor que o caminho a trilhar não é um embate IA x Humano, e sim um viés em que a dita Inteligência Artificial potencializa o que nós, pessoas, somos.

    Se de melhor ou de pior, bom, a classificação e a decisão ficam à nossa conta.

    De todo modo, medos de que as máquinas algum dia se revoltam contra nós como nas telas de cinema – ou no streaming que parece adivinhar a melhor série que combina com o meu perfil – podem ser minimizados quando aceitamos a IA tal qual ela é: poderosa em design e clara, mas desprovida de consciência ou compreensão semântica.

    A máquina avança pela nossa inteligência real e nos ajuda a automatizar tarefas repetitivas, calcular cenários em dimensões e magnitudes que são pouco obviamente impossíveis e até mesmo predizer possibilidades com altas taxas de acertos. Tudo isso sem tirar nem ameaçar o papel que nos cumpre: decisores sobre qual impacto queremos que a IA tenha em nossas vidas. 

    A TV interferiu no rádio. O digital não é impresso. O CD sem vinil. A IA, claro, vai transformar muitos aspectos da nossa vida, e nossa relação com ela moldará nosso futuro.

    A pergunta que não quer calar (Como?), porém, não deve ser direcionada ao ChatGPT ou correlatos. Quem vai responder a nós, enquanto sociedade, dentro das classes, castas e divisões a que nos submetemos (ou impomos).

    Quem sabe a gente não escolhe usar a tecnologia para um futuro mais inclusivo e menos desigual. Se é possível sonhar? Eu acredito que sim.

    Mas esse papo é para um próximo texto.

    Um abraço, entre , e até lá.

Fonte: https://www.jb.com.br/brasil/opiniao/artigos/2025/10/1057 224-ia-uma-inteligencia-que-nao-pensa-ja-pensounisso.html. Acesso em 31/10/2025. Excerto