KUALA LUMPUR: An opposition MP has questioned the effectiveness of mental health programmes in schools, citing the alleged lack of data sharing between the education and health ministries.
Debating the 2027 budget in the Dewan Rakyat today, Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (PN-Masjid Tanah) claimed that the education ministry possessed data that would help the health ministry identify students needing intervention.
“If the health ministry does not have this data, how can it provide targeted and effective help?” she said.
Under the Minda Sihat initiative, students are screened for mental health problems, while school counsellors provide early help to those found to be at risk.
Earlier this month, health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad told the lower house that students requiring further assessment or treatment would be referred to facilities under his ministry.
The schools, however, would need to consult the parents or guardians before referring students to government clinics or hospitals for treatment.
Contacted later, Mas Ermieyati said a source had told her the two ministries did not share the relevant data.
Separately, she raised concerns about bullying and violent behaviour among schoolchildren.
Citing a Berita Harian report, she said the Anti-Bullying Tribunal had received 61 complaints over three months, with physical bullying accounting for the highest number of cases, followed by psychological bullying.
“This is frightening. What about cases of bullying that go unreported?” she said.
Mas Ermieyati said teachers are often responsible for 30 to 40 students in a classroom, making it difficult for them to identify children experiencing emotional problems, struggling with learning difficulties, or requiring food assistance.
“Teachers are not machines. Without proper support, how can they identify students who are under stress, struggling with their studies, or needing food?” she said.
She also expressed concern about excessive screen time, which could affect children's ability to empathise with others, and questioned whether violent extremist ideas were influencing schoolchildren.