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The Education Ministry (MOE) has announced a series of new measures to strengthen safety and tackle disciplinary issues in schools nationwide, following a series of violent incidents that have reignited public concern over student welfare
In a statement today, 22 October, the ministry said the latest measures are meant to tighten safety, strengthen mental health support, and empower teachers to better manage student behaviour, amid recent cases that have shocked parents and educators across the country.
Among the measures announced are the installation of more CCTV cameras in schools, with an additional RM5 million allocated for the initiative, on top of the RM3 million previously approved.
Over 10,000 new teachers, including more than 500 guidance and counselling teachers, will also be deployed beginning in November this year to help address students' psychosocial needs.
The MOE will also appoint 600 full-time hostel warden assistants under the Malaysia Short-Term Employment Programme (MySTEP) to improve safety monitoring in dormitories, while reducing the workload of existing wardens.
To step up preventive efforts, the ministry said it will enhance cooperation with the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) through the Consultation Committee and School Liaison Officer system, allowing for more regular safety patrols and monitoring of school environments
Other measures include enhancing mental health screenings for students from Year 1 to Form 6 in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH), as well as finalising a new Child Protection Policy to better safeguard students from harm.
The ministry also revealed plans to rework existing disciplinary regulations, giving principals and teachers clearer authority to take action against unruly students, including suspension, caning, and expulsion, all within existing legal boundaries.
In addition, the Student Personality System (SSDM) will be reviewed to make it a more proactive tool for managing and tracking behavioural issues, while teachers will receive ongoing crisis preparedness training.
MOE added that schools must also provide avenues for teachers and students to voice concerns through dialogue sessions and the 'student voice box' initiative, in line with UNICEF's recommendation to amplify children's voices in policy-making.
"All parties must work together to ensure schools remain safe spaces for learning," the ministry said, stressing its commitment to building a "secure and nurturing" ecosystem in all educational institutions.
These new measures come barely a week after a fatal stabbing at a secondary school in Bandar Utama, which sparked renewed scrutiny over violence and mental health issues among students.
The incident, which claimed the life of a 16-year-old girl, has prompted calls for urgent reforms to improve school safety and psychosocial support nationwide.
The announcement also follows another alarming case in Melaka, where several male students were arrested for allegedly gang-raping a schoolgirl earlier this month.
