KUALA LUMPUR: The identification of 402 Malaysians schools with disciplinary and drug issues should serve as a wake-up call for all quarters.
National Parent-Teacher Association chairman Datuk Mohamad Ali Hassan said the list, although not meant for public consumption, is a reality that parents and teachers needed to accept.
“The schools should not be ashamed if they are on the list.
“Instead, they should improve their schools and aim to be removed from the next updated list,” he told the New Straits Times today.
Mohamad Ali added that the affected schools should be given ample time address these problems.
“You can’t depend on the schools or parents alone to monitor students who are possibly affected by these social problems. The fact that this list exists means that there are problems that require attention.
“However, I also feel that this list needs to be verified by several quarters including the National Anti-Drugs Agency (NADA or AADK), Health Ministry, school authorities, police and local councils.
“This is to ensure that the categorisation was done accurately,” he said.
Meanwhile, National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) said the relevant quarters must handle these problems holistically.
Its secretary-general Harry Tan said experienced staff should be placed at these schools.
“By placing principals with strong credentials and experience, these schools can be managed better,” he said when contacted today.
He added that the standard operating procedures (SOPs) in dealing with disciplinary cases should also be reviewed.
“Teachers, particularly those who look after their students’ affairs, should be given training to handle disciplinary cases.
“While teachers are able to handle disciplinary cases such as disruptive behaviour in class, not all of them are equipped to handle problems such as students exchanging blows.
“It is needed for these teachers to protect themselves.”
He said teachers must also receive legal training to help them mete out the appropriate punishments when handling disciplinary cases.
Parent Action Group for Education Malaysia (PAGE) founder Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim said parents have a vital role to play in ensuring their children are not involved in social ills.
“Stop blaming the schools because parents, too, have a role in monitoring their children’s behaviour.
“If a parent is concerned over a smoking problem, they need to look at themselves. How do you expect your child not to smoke if you are smoking yourself?
“Parents need to ensure that their children are brought up in a good environment to prevent these social problems,” she said.
She added that when a child is brought up in a good environment, he or she would be able to decide for themselves what is good or bad.
“At the same time, we also need to bring back the caring society where we look out for each other. Back then, neighbours used to help look out for each other’s children, but today, people don’t seem to care anymore,” she said.
Yesterday, the New Straits Times revealed list of schools that were identified as hotspots for disciplinary and drugs problems by sources.
The list was verified by officials close to the committee involved in its preparation. It divided the schools into two categories, namely disciplinary cases (Category 1), and disciplinary cases involving drugs (Category 3).
On June 21, Deputy Education Minister Datuk Chong Sin Woon said the ministry is monitoring 402 schools nationwide that identified as having disciplinary issues.
Chong, however, had declined to divulge the names of the schools.