NST 12-08-2025 - SAFETY AUDITS AT ALL SCHOOLS, HOSTELS

Aug 13, 2026

Education Ministry of Malaysia is conducting a safety audit across all schools, including boarding schools and hostels, to review existing standard operating procedures (SOP) and disciplinary guidelines, with specific attention to bullying. The audit is planned to be completed within three months. Proposed improvements include enhanced SOPs, an upgraded bullying complaint portal with an anonymous option, and coordination through an Educational Institution Safety Reform Committee to study audit findings, strengthen enforcement, and expand student wellbeing systems.

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SAFETY AUDITS AT ALL SCHOOLS, HOSTELS

Scope and timeline of the audit

Measures to improve school safety and bullying reporting

Safety Reform Committee and wellbeing index

Zero tolerance and intervention programmes

Stakeholder expectations and holistic approach

SEKTOR DOKUMENTASI PENDIDIKANBPPDP,Kementerian Pendidikan MalaysiaAras SB-4,Blok E8,Kompleks E,Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan62604 Putrajaya.Tel :03-88846425Faks:03-88846284 TARIKH:12 OGOS 2025(SELASA) N.STRAITS TIME[ # SAFETY AUDITS AT ALLSCHOOLS,HOSTELS SOP,guidelines ondisciplinary mattersto be reviewed,says Education D-G IYLIA MARSYA ISKANDAR KUALA LUMPUR iyliamarsya@nst.com.my HE Education Ministryis conducting a safetyaudit of all schools to re-view existing standardoperating procedures(SOP)andguidelines on disciplinary mat-ters,including bullying. Education director-generalDr Mohd Azam Ahmad,in astate-ment,said the audit would becompleted within three months. "The Education Ministry willtake several key measures to en-sure safety at all educational in-stitutions,including boardingschools and hostels. "This includes improving theSOP and measures on schoolsafety to address disciplinarymatters,including bullying,inEducation Ministry institutions. "The existing SOP and guide-lines will be reviewed to ensurethey are relevant to current andfuture needs,"Azam said. He added that the complaintsystem,including the"bullyingcomplaint portal”,would be im-proved to make it more accessible. The portal will include ananonymous option to protect the identity of complainants andwit-nesses. nature of safety. Universiti KebangsaanMalaysia's Malaysian InclusiveDevelopment and AdvancementInstitute deputy director Dr An-uar Ahmad said the audit was anopportunity to develop a thor-ough system to ensure students'overall wellbeing. This move followed several cas-es of bullying in schools and in-stitutions of higher learning. Azam said the ministry will setup the Educational InstitutionSafety Reform Committee tostudy and improve the findingsof the safety audit. “This audit will encourageschools to pay closer attention to "The committee will comprise safety concerns.How-ever,we need to delvedeeper,"he said. academics,represen-tatives from non-gov-ernmental organisa-tions,experts fromvarious fields,includ-ing the police. Anuar suggestedthe introduction of awelfare index to coverall aspects of stu-dents'wellbeing. "It will also invovlethe parent-communi-ty-private sector in-volvement group. "We need a schoolwelfare index on safe-ty,wellbeing,physicaland mental health,cy-ber issues and nutri-tion.We cannot waitfor problems to arisebefore taking action,"he said. "There will be zerotolerance for bullying.Firm action will betaken,including sus-pension and expul-sion from school. Dr Mohd Azam Ahmad "An interventionprogramme,‘Bangkit Bermaru-ah’,focusing on community ser-vice and character development,will be introduced for studentssuspended from school.” He acknowledged thatMalaysia already had guidelinesto address safety and bullying,but schools often lacked aware-ness and effective enforcement. Stakeholders,meanwhile,wel-comed the ministry'ssafety auditplans,saying it was amuch-need-ed initiative. Drawing on Australia's experi-ence,Anuar said,preschool chil-dren there receive bullyingawareness education,and par-ents were taught how to tacklethe issue. National Parent-Teacher Asso-ciation president Datuk ProfessorDr Mohamad Ali Hasan said theaudit must be comprehensive,consider physical,psychological,sociological,spiritual and hu-manistic factors and thedynamic Both experts called for a holis-tic approach involving teachers,parents,students,and the widercommunity to eradicate bully-ing.

FAQs

What support or programmes may be introduced for suspended students?

An intervention programme, “Bangkit Bermaru-ah,” focusing on community service and character development will be introduced for students suspended from school.

Aug 13, 2026

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