SNAPSHOT | Residents win suit against govt over 2021 floods; MOE to expand CCTV coverage in boarding schools

In Malaysia, the education ministry has announced the installation of CCTV cameras in 333 boarding schools this year, allocating an extra RM5 million to enhance student monitoring and safety. The initiative aims to tackle bullying, with 300 MySTEP warden assistants deployed to aid surveillance, especially during nighttime. Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek expressed concern over the anxiety parents experience when bullying incidents occur, acknowledging her own experience as a mother with a child who once studied in a hostel.

Fadhlina highlighted that her ministry has implemented measures to address the issue of bullying in schools over the years, and further improvements were made based on lessons learned. To protect the identities of complainants and witnesses, the ministry has enhanced its bullying complaint system by adding an anonymous reporting function via the MOE Bullying Complaint Portal.

Moreover, the ministry has strengthened its prevention and early intervention efforts through the S.A.F.E. Framework, which incorporates prevention, early intervention, and rehabilitation strategies, including peer support groups and focused counselling. Character education, emphasizing values such as integrity and empathy, will be introduced in the 2027 school curriculum.

The government is also collaborating with the legal affairs division of the Prime Minister's Department to draft the Anti-Bullying Act 2026, which will include provisions for an anti-bullying tribunal as a platform for victims to seek redress. The ministry has introduced guidelines on managing bullying misconduct in 2023, serving as an official reference for schools to handle complaints, investigations, disciplinary action, and interventions.

However, Fadhlina emphasized that the ministry cannot afford to be complacent with the measures in place, as the work is not complete until all students feel safe at school. She reiterated that as long as there is a child who does not feel safe at school, the ministry's efforts to address bullying will continue.