Cameras, cops, circulars — why school bullying won’t go away — Ahmad Ibrahim
OCTOBER 22 — The Education Ministry recently released figures: 5,681 bullying cases reported in schools between Ja...
On October 22, the Malaysian Education Ministry reported 5,681 bullying cases in schools between January and August 2023. The Prime Minister acknowledged that the actual number is likely higher. Despite installing CCTV cameras, sending police to schools, and adding counselors, the issue persists. The Ministry's approach, however, may be misguided.
Cameras and police cannot address the root cause of bullying, which occurs when adult attention is absent. Schools have lost the ability to solve their own problems, with teachers overwhelmed by administrative tasks. The National Union of the Teaching Profession notes that teacher burnout stems from administrative work, not teaching itself.
England's school autonomy reforms suggest a more effective approach: the state sets curriculum standards, while schools manage their own staff, budgets, and training. Malaysia's issue lies in having excessive direction and insufficient trust. Circulars imply that schools cannot act independently, turning them into mere execution terminals.
The real solutions lie in schools having the autonomy to allocate resources and design interventions suited to their unique situations, tied to accountability for student safety and growth. Teachers, who spend every day with students, are best positioned to identify and address bullying.
Written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
