Fidget spinner: Education Ministry awaits full report

KUALANERANG: The Education Ministry is awaiting reports from stakeholders before taking any action relating to the use of “fidget spinner” that has become a phenomenal trend among school students.

Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said the new gadget had just entered the market and the effect of its usage had yet to be known.

“It is a new gadget and there are numerous views on its use, we need to wait for a full report from the authorities and stakeholders before discussing it in a committee at the ministrial level.”

He told reporters after officiating the national-level ‘ Sayangi Hidup Elak Derita Selamanya (SHIELDS)’ camp with the National Anti- Drug Agency (AADK), here yesterday.

Mahdzir said this in response to media reports on the allegations that the “fidget spinner” was dangerous and could cause harm or turn into deadly weapon, as well as on the call for Education Ministry to monitor the phenomenon that could distract the learning process among students.

On another development, Mahdzir said the ministry planned to establish a National Blue Ocean Strategy ( NBOS) network that could be extended to grass-roots level in the effort to curb drug abuse among students.

He said, through the NBOS network, various parties such as the AADK, police, head of village, imam, as well as school authorities would be jointly mobilised to eradicate drug abuse which is currently at a worrying stage.

“Currently, we already have such an NBOS at the national level. However, we intend to extend it to the grass-roots level.

“For instance, when AADK and the police have identified a drug hotspot, we will call all the parties involved and discuss on measures that need to be taken,” said Mahdzir.

Meanwhile, AADK directorgeneral Datuk Dr Abd Halim Mohammad Hussin in his speech said the number of students tested positive for drugs had been on the rise.

“In 2015, 1,748 out of 49,711 students were tested positive for drugs, and last year, 1,411 out of 35,522 students were also tested positive for drugs. This trend is indeed worrying,” he said. — Bernama