Police, military stint for bullies
KUALA LUMPUR: Students with disciplinary issues, especially those involved in bullying cases, will be sent for a stint with the police and armed forces.
They will be subjected to continuous theoretical and physical training.
Deputy Education Minister II Datuk Chong Sin Woon said the programme was a collaborative effort between his ministry and the two forces under the National Blue Ocean Strategy (NBOS).
“Under NBOS, the ministry has been carrying out programmes with various government agencies, including the armed forces and police, to address disciplinary problems among students.
“This method utilises the expertise and skills of both the police and armed forces, who are tasked with organising the activities,” he told the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
Chong said the programme had been in existence since 2013. He said about 5,300 students from 140 schools were sent for the programme annually.
Chong was responding to a question from Datuk Mohd Zaim Abu Hasan (BN-Parit) on the ministry’s plans or programmes under NBOS to create awareness among students of their physical and psychological actions.
He said another programme under NBOS involved the appointment of a police liaison officer for schools to help them implement crime prevention programmes and address disciplinary issues.
He added that the establishment of Crime Prevention Clubs in schools with the Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation was another NBOS effort.
“The Education Ministry is aware that disciplinary problems, including bullying, are still happening in schools.
“We are looking at addressing the issue through various mechanisms such as prevention, empowerment of the law, intervention and collaborative efforts.”
Chong said schools had been issued reminders on ways to address the issue via awareness programmes and student personality-building clubs, such as peer-counsellors clubs.
He said disciplinary committees had also been formed to carry out investigations as well as suggest punishments and steps for intervention by school administrations.
“Counsellors have been provided skills to address stress among students and carry out personality tests, as well as identify students who are prone to violence and bullying.
“All teachers are also disciplinary teachers, and there are pamphlets on ways to tackle the bullying problem. There is also a module on how to develop loving teachers and families, as well as developing a school-loving culture,” he said.