KUALA LUMPUR: Schools must not hide bullying cases just to protect their image, says Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching.
She stressed that schools should be taking more proactive measures to deal with bullying cases before the situation becomes worse.
“What is the most important part is that we must make sure that schools will not hide bullying cases even though there is an existing system to report such incidents.
“But, I cannot deny there are some schools that want to protect their image and these cases will go unreported and will only become an issue when it becomes viral.
“We encourage teachers, headmasters, and school management to inform and report, not hide the cases as it will not help the students who were bullied.
“And, they should be given attention,” she said after the “#KidsTakeOver Parliament: We Care” event organised by the ministry and Unicef Malaysia at the Parliament building.
The event, which was held in conjunction with World Children’s Day, was attended by 40 secondary school students aged between 13 and 16, to highlight the issue of bullying in schools.
The students shared their personal experiences on bullying and delivered recommendations on the anti-bullying school policy to Teo.
It was witnessed by the Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Mohamed Ariff Md Yusof.
Recommendations on the anti-bullying school policy were developed by students during the #ENDviolence Camp last month.
The six recommendations were to create a comprehensive and holistic reporting system for the victim and witnesses; a thorough investigation by the school; provide support for the victim; a holistic programme for the bullies; to update the guideline to prevent and address bullying cases in schools; and to create a code of ethics for teachers and students and to sign letters of undertaking every year.
Teo said the recommendations would be brought to the ministry’s policy department to study if the suggestions would work in schools.
“We will make sure there will be values on happiness because if there are bullying cases, how can students be content in their school?
“I hope that all levels of the community including parents, public, schools as well as teachers will be more aware of their children, avoid hiding (the bully cases) and help those facing bullying,” she said.