Suspension for school bullies

> Education Ministry seeks consensus on proposal for one-year punishment

KUALA NERANG: The Education Ministry proposes to enforce a one-year suspension on primary and secondary school students who are involved in bullying cases.

Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said the ministry would get feedback from the public on the plan and if there is a consensus , it would probably be enforced from January next year.

“This is a plan at the ministry’s level and I think it is time that strict action is taken so that bullying cases in school are put to a stop,” he said.

“I am of the opinion that bullying in schools is getting serious and we need to counter it immediately and suspension is the best step.”

He told this to reporters after opening the “Kasihi Pekebun” event and handing over assistance from the Additional Economic Activities project, here, yesterday.

Mahdzir said under the plan, the aim was to make the punishment serve as a lesson to other students as any suspended student due to sit for any major examination would have to do it the following year.

“Within the suspension period, the students concerned will be asked to do charity work or be sent to rehabilitation centres in order for them to be allowed back in school,” he said.

However, he said the ministry had no plans to expel the errant students as it would affect their future.

Mahdzir added the ministry was also monitoring the high-tide phenomenon at several places nationwide, adding that so far, no school session had been affected by the phenomenon.

He said the ministry would keep in touch with district education departments on this issue. – Bernama