MOE Strengthens Student Protection Measures Across 10,258 Schools

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 16 (Bernama) -- The education sector in Malaysia is facing increasingly complex challenges, requiring stronger and more comprehensive safety and student protection mechanisms across all 10,258 schools nationwide.

Education director-general Datuk Mohd Azam Ahmad said the Ministry of Education (MOE) received reports of student injuries almost daily, with incidents involving fatalities having reached 10 or more cases in a single day.

He said although the school environment might appear calm, the ministry received daily reports of various incidents requiring immediate action and more robust guidelines.

“People might look at us, the school community, and see a calm school where nothing seems to be happening. But in reality, at the MOE, we receive daily reports of incidents involving student injuries or deaths. There have even been instances exceeding 10 cases in a single day.

“That is why we have formulated this policy, to establish guidelines for schools to address these matters. We are not looking at just one school, but the needs of all 10,258 schools,” he said during the Student Protection Policy dialogue session broadcast on the MOE’s YouTube channel, EduWebTV.

The dialogue also featured Children’s Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) Dr Farah Nini Dusuki, MOE Daily School Management Division director Hanafi Abdul Samad, and MOE Educational Policy Planning and Research Division director Datin Rosliza Rosli as panellists.

Azam said education had become increasingly complex as students grew up in a digital era that exposed them to various external influences at a much younger age than previous generations.

He said the role of teachers had also evolved beyond delivering academic knowledge to include nurturing students’ values and character, as well as supporting their emotional and psychological well-being.

In this regard, he said the Student Protection Policy and clear protocols are crucial in helping educators carry out their responsibilities professionally while guiding them in addressing contemporary challenges.

The policy, announced through a circular, Surat Pekeliling Ikhtisas (SPI), dated July 1 this year, requires school personnel and external parties interacting with schools to sign a Letter of Compliance with the School Student Protection Policy as a commitment to safeguarding student safety.

The circular outlines key areas of education reform, including mental health; reproductive and social health education; prevention of child sexual violence and substance abuse; student protection; teacher welfare; and student voice.

-- BERNAMA