PETALING JAYA: Teachers must be trained to respond promptly and intervene effectively to every bullying complaint so as to prevent lasting harm to victims, says education minister Fadhlina Sidek.
Speaking at an anti-bullying programme in Kuala Lumpur, Fadhlina said teacher training must be strengthened to ensure every case is handled comprehensively and appropriate action taken.
“Teachers must be trained in how to respond, including how to read situations, assess the circumstances of victims and bullies, and carry out ecological interventions to ensure all parties move in step,” Bernama quoted her as saying.
A total of 4,289 bullying cases were recorded across schools and boarding schools from March to August – or an average of 24 cases per day.
Fadhlina said bullying must be addressed through an integrated approach involving teachers, school administrators, district education offices, state education departments and the education ministry.
She said trainee teachers must also be taught character development so that they can shape students’ personalities and help tackle bullying in schools.
Fadhlina said the decline in parental support for children’s education, as highlighted in the Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) results, also required serious attention.
She said a lack of support at home could affect the education ecosystem and students’ wellbeing, adding that parents needed to take a more active role in understanding their children’s experiences at school.
Meanwhile, law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said stated that the Anti-Bullying Tribunal had received 68 complaints between June 17 and Oct 19, of which 51 had been resolved and 17 remained pending.
Speaking at the same programme, Azalina said 42 of the complaints involved victims aged 13 to 17, while 22 concerned children aged seven to 12. The remaining involved children aged four to six.
Students must first seek resolution through their schools, after which cases can be brought to the tribunal for mediation, formal apologies, counselling, or compensation orders.
Earlier this month, the education ministry said of the 4,289 bullying cases recorded from March to August, 2,480 involved physical bullying, 1,386 verbal bullying, 243 non-verbal bullying and 180 cyberbullying.