Latest news with #Fouzi
The Star
a day ago
- Politics
- The Star
Experts back anonymous school bullying report option
PETALING JAYA: The anonymity feature in the Education Ministry's Bullying Complaints Portal will create a safer avenue to speak out without fear and prejudice for school students. But stakeholders say the channel must be effective in tackling the issues that are raised. National Union of the Teaching Profession secretary-general Fouzi Singon, who welcomed the effort by the ministry, said it is vital to make educational institutions safe and well-managed. ALSO READ : Transparency and swift action key for anti-bully portal But he said such efforts should also come with continuous reviews and improvements to ensure the effectiveness of the mechanism in tackling all the issues. 'Schools and dormitories should provide multiple channels for students to register complaints in various mediums,' he said. 'Even if the matter is small, appropriate action should be taken and students should be informed accordingly so that they know their voices are heard and taken seriously.' Fouzi said this in response to Education director-general Dr Mohd Azam Ahmad's statement that the existing complaints system, including the Bullying Complaints Portal, will be simplified with an option for anonymity to protect the identity of complainants and witnesses. An educational institution safety reform committee will also be established, following a rise in cases of bullying in schools. Mohd Azam also said that all state education directors and district education officers have been ordered to conduct spot checks to curb bullying in schools. The officials will also have to visit boarding schools at night to monitor the situation and understand how the students live. On carrying out spot checks in schools, Fouzi said it should not be a problem as long as the institutions comply with existing standard operating procedure and regulations under the guidelines for student misconduct and discipline. 'However, for repeat offenders, these students can be suspended and expelled,' he said, adding that counselling through the Welfare Department can be included if needed. Human Rights Commission of Malaysia children's commissioner Dr Farah Nini Dusuki also expressed support for the reform but cautioned that it is still important to listen to the children. 'You can have the most advanced system but whatever is put in place, the priority must be to hear what the children are saying,' she said. 'There's no point if the system is not child-friendly and responses are not immediate. 'As for the spot checks, I think it is commendable as they will ensure that protective systems are in place. 'Logically, it will not be rigorous in nature, owing to the multiplicity of schools – sekolah kebangsaan directly under the government, as well as sekolah asrama penuh, sekolah agama and others,' she noted. She said there must be a strong anti-bullying policy in place in each school, backed by a strong and vigilant monitoring system. 'Teachers and wardens must be the ones conducting regular, consistent and random spot checks in the wee hours of the night or morning,' Farah Nini added. Parent Action Group for Education chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim raised the concern of how past efforts have not yielded any tangible results to systemic bullying. As such, she said the approach needs to shift from one-off anti-bullying campaigns to a whole-school, long-term cultural change. 'Acknowledge the scope of the problem. Schools must first accept that bullying is not just 'kids being kids' but a serious, systemic issue that can harm mental health, academic performance and even lead to long-term trauma. 'On reporting with anonymity, this will strengthen reporting and response systems. 'Students often don't report bullying because they fear retaliation or believe nothing will happen. 'Every report must be taken seriously with timely follow-up and clear communication to parents,' she said. 'Schools should have trained counsellors or designated safeguarding officers, not just disciplinary teachers.' She also said parents are the child's first and most influential role model and that if parents excuse or ignore harmful behaviour, they are teaching their children that cruelty is acceptable and empathy is optional. 'Parents should guide their children towards accountability, compassion and respect for others,' she added.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Does one size fit all? Not for secondary school education
IT cannot be denied that Malaysians are constantly fixated on education. It remains a hotly debated topic in coffee shops and boardrooms, back and forth in heated emotional arguments, as many parents see quality education as a pathway for success. Today the government has expanded the definition of 'compulsory education' to include secondary school education as mandatory for all Malaysian children residing in the country. Parents who fail to do so may face a fine of up to RM5,000, imprisonment up to six months, or both upon conviction. Should secondary education be made compulsory? While many welcomed the move, there were an equal number who expressed the view that one should not have to force parents to send their children to school. A radio station that ran a survey asking parents to call in and express their views on compulsory secondary school education was on the receiving end of many irate listeners. Many said the government should find out why parents chose not to send their children to government secondary schools, if it was due to poverty, transport issues, family problems, the need for children to help out at home or that schools were not delivering and students chose to stay away. Fouzi Singon, secretary-general of the National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) Malaysia feels the issue of attendance at secondary school continues to take centre stage for the Ministry of Education (MOE). 'They do not want parents to ignore their responsibility to ensure their children attend school. Even if one student is absent for a day in one school, the total number is 10,220 students, based on the number of schools,' he said. Fouzi believes MOE must pay attention to what happens in primary schools and have a programme to make sure all levels of students can cover literacy and numeracy at the end of each year. He also suggests a debriefing session annually with teachers and parents from year one to year six to work towards literacy and numeracy skills for each child. He feels primary students will go on to government secondary schools and their parents would encourage them, if they see their children achieve literacy and numeracy skills and therefore feel confident at secondary school level. Fouzi stressed that if necessary, the government must identify the weaker students as previously the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah(UPSR) exams did that. But since it has now been abolished, teachers need to use their own assessments to test the ability of primary school students to be ready for secondary school. Malaysia stands out as one of those countries which have allowed a diverse ecosystem in education to thrive, with national schools, also known as government schools, where Bahasa Malaysia is the main medium of instruction, Chinese and Tamil vernacular schools, private international schools, as well as a system of Islamic schools. Challenges facing government secondary school education Deputy Minister of Education Wong Kah Woh said that at primary level the dropout rate had decreased from 0.10% in 2020 to 0.06% in 2024, while at secondary level the dropout rate has also decreased from 1.33% in 2020 to 0.64% in 2024. But the bigger issue, which is often overlooked, remains the large number of private international schools, which have mushroomed. It cannot be denied that many parents have taken their children out of government secondary schools and enrolled them in private international schools. From 2019 to 2024, the number of Malaysian students enrolled in private international schools surged by 34%, as reported by Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek. Currently there are approximately 2.05 million students enrolled in government and government-aided secondary schools in 2022. In July 2024, enrollment numbers at Malaysia's private international schools stood at 111,185, up by 11% over five years. Malaysian students made up 67.1%(59,726) with Bumiputera student enrolment increased by 50%. While secondary school education is being made compulsory, the government should explore whether government secondary school education remains top choice. Are parents switching to other streams such as private education and home-schooling? Also, whether secondary students are choosing early employment due to boredom and outdated curriculums. Nallini Letchmanan, who recently retired from a secondary school in Petaling Jaya, has been teaching English for 36 years in both primary and secondary schools. She said that while she agrees secondary school education should be made compulsory, there are many other challenges facing students at government secondary schools. 'The internet has opened up new possibilities, and secondary school students are attracted to new ways to earn money on the internet full-time. Not all would aspire to become lawyers and managers and take on white collar jobs. 'Attitude towards the English language poses a challenge sometimes. Many are not able to grasp it as they come with a poor foundation. 'Teachers have to persevere and find new ways to motivate students, maybe through debates as I did in my school,' said Nallini, who introduced debate in her secondary school, which won many competitions. Professor Dr Kumaranvelu Ramasamy, Tamil educationist said vernacular Tamil primary schools are feeders to government secondary schools and poverty, poor academic readiness and lack of motivation are the main culprits contributing to poor attendance or an increase in dropout rates at secondary schools. 'Making secondary school education compulsory may help improve enrolment in secondary schools but will it help under performing children reach their academic goals?,' he said.
Daily Express
17-06-2025
- General
- Daily Express
Teachers don't lack time to complete syllabus, says NUTP
Published on: Tuesday, June 17, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jun 17, 2025 By: Anne Muhammad, FMT Text Size: NUTP secretary-general Fouzi Singon suggested that the ministry reassess all high-impact programmes, including those he said only serve to waste the time and emotional efforts of teachers. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA: The National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) has denied that teachers are short on time to complete the syllabus, insisting that total schooling days remain consistent each year. NUTP secretary-general Fouzi Singon said schools operate according to the official calendar set by the education ministry, with no fewer than 190 school days per year. Advertisement 'Schools have administrative assistants, department heads, and committee heads to manage each subject. 'Teachers know what they're doing to ensure the success of their students every year. Co-curriculars have been planned by the ministry, education department, district education departments, and schools,' he told FMT. Fouzi was commenting on teachers' concerns that a large portion of the syllabus remained uncompleted despite the academic session already passing the halfway point. Yesterday, Anuar Ahmad of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia claimed that numerous programmes organised by administrators, both within and outside of school, had disrupted teaching schedules. He said the academic session this year was also shorter, with the next one to begin in January. Fouzi said teachers understood their responsibilities and were fully committed to ensuring their students' success, but also acknowledged that some schools ran programmes outside of the yearly plan. 'There is no denying that some schools have not properly considered whether the programmes implemented will have an impact on students' education, or are simply to fulfil the demands of their management,' he said. He suggested that the ministry reassess all high-impact programmes, including those which he said only served to waste the time and emotional efforts of teachers. 'Programmes not scheduled in the calendar don't have to be run. The World Bank report that Malaysian students spend an average of 11 years in school but learn the equivalent of only eight years must be taken into account and acted on by the ministry,' he said.
New Straits Times
16-05-2025
- Health
- New Straits Times
NUTP welcomes move to ease teacher transfer rules, calls for transparent system
KUALA LUMPUR: The government's decision to ease teacher transfer conditions is a long-overdue relief for educators facing pressing personal circumstances, particularly those dealing with family or health-related challenges, said the National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP). NUTP secretary-general Fouzi Singon said allowing teachers to apply for transfers after just two years of service without additional conditions would have both emotional and professional impacts, especially for those who have waited years to move closer to home. He said the move would particularly benefit teachers dealing with family or medical issues, enabling them to serve with greater focus and emotional stability. "We thank Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek and the Education Ministry for listening to the voices of teachers and making this bold decision. "It provides immediate relief for those facing urgent family challenges, health concerns, or other pressing circumstances," he told the New Straits Times. Fouzi added that while not all teachers intend to apply for transfers as soon as they become eligible, the option will significantly assist those in need. "We believe most teachers want to remain committed to their posts, but in some cases, being able to move closer to home will enable them to perform better and serve more effectively," he said. However, Fouzi emphasised that a proper system must be in place to prevent the new flexibility from being exploited. "We hope a dedicated committee can be established to fairly evaluate each application, ensuring transparency and preventing misuse of this opportunity," he said. Previously, the Education Ministry required teachers to serve at least three years before submitting transfer requests, and even then, applications were subject to strict conditions and limited quotas. Fadhlina announced the new policy on Friday (May 16) during her speech at the 54th National Teachers' Day celebration at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK). She said the ministry would now accept applications from teachers who have completed two years of service, without any additional conditions. Commenting further, Fouzi said health issues and divorce were among the main reasons cited by teachers applying for transfers. "Most of the applications we receive are related to the need for ongoing medical treatment at a specific hospital or family matters such as divorce," he said. "For instance, in the case of Cikgu Din, his wife was battling cancer, and he wanted to be by her side to care for her. Situations like this demonstrate the importance of considering transfers based on family, health, and even safety concerns." Last year, the case of Cikgu Din drew national attention after he reportedly developed mental health issues from being separated from his wife, who was undergoing cancer treatment in Kelantan. His initial transfer request was denied as he had not yet completed the three-year service requirement. Cikgu Din, who was teaching in Kanowit, Sarawak, had been travelling back and forth every two weeks to care for his wife. The ministry later approved his transfer, allowing him to teach at a school closer to her.
