Latest news with #MohdAzam
Malaysian Reserve
3 days ago
- Malaysian Reserve
Anonymous bullying reports to be allowed under revamped MOE system
COMPLAINANTS or witnesses in bullying cases will soon be able to file reports anonymously under the Ministry of Education (MOE) revamped reporting system, including the Aduan Buli portal, to protect their identities. Education DG Dr Mohd Azam Ahmad said the reform is part of immediate measures to strengthen safety in educational institutions, alongside a comprehensive safety audit in all schools, boarding schools and daily hostels. He said the audit will focus on compliance with safety standard operating procedures (SOPs) and review existing guidelines to ensure they remain relevant. 'The audit report will be presented to the top management of MOE within three months,' he said in a statement on Aug 11. MOE will also establish the Institutional Safety Reform Committee, comprising academics, NGOs, subject matter experts, police and representatives from the Parents, Community and Private Sector Involvement (PIBKS) initiative, to reinforce school safety. According to Mohd Azam, there will be no compromise on bullying offences, with strict action including suspension or expulsion. For suspended students, MOE will introduce the Bangkit Bermaruah intervention programme, focusing on community service and character development. 'School administrators, teachers and officers at district and state education offices who fail to manage bullying complaints in accordance with existing guidelines will face action,' he said. He added that psychosocial support will be strengthened for students, teachers and the wider school community, with guidance and counselling teachers playing a key role in prevention and intervention. — TMR
Daily Express
4 days ago
- Daily Express
Safety audit of all schools
Published on: Tuesday, August 12, 2025 Published on: Tue, Aug 12, 2025 Text Size: Dr Mohd Azam: Findings within three months. Kuala Lumpur: The Ministry of Education (MOE) will carry out an immediate safety audit of all schools, including fully residential institutions and hostels, with findings to be presented to the Ministry's top management within three months. Education Director-General Dr Mohd Azam Ahmad said the audit will focus on compliance with safety-related SOPs. Advertisement 'The existing complaint system, including the Anti-Bullying Portal, will be reformed,' he said in a statement, Monday. 'It will be simplified and include an anonymous reporting option to protect the identities of complainants and witnesses,' he added. The move follows public outrage over the death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir, who was found unconscious after allegedly falling from the third floor of her school dormitory in Sabah. Her body was later exhumed for a post-mortem amid allegations of bullying, and thousands have rallied for a transparent investigation. The Ministry said it will establish a safety reform committee comprising academics, non-governmental organisations, experts from various fields and police, and representatives from the Parent, Community and Private Sector Involvement network. It also reaffirmed its zero-tolerance stance on bullying, saying offenders may face suspension or expulsion, while administrators, teachers and education officers who fail to manage complaints according to guidelines will face disciplinary action. A new intervention programme called Bangkit Bermaruah will be introduced for students suspended from school, focusing on community service and character development. The Ministry said psychosocial support will be strengthened at every level, with guidance and counselling teachers playing a key role in prevention and intervention. It urged all parties to work together to tackle bullying in a comprehensive and coordinated manner, adding that creating a safe school environment is a shared responsibility. At an event in Kuala Terengganu Monday, Dr Mohd Azam ordered all state education directors and district education officers to conduct spot checks on schools to curb bullying. He said the officials have to also visit boarding schools at night not only to monitor but to get to know and understand how boarding school students live. 'Maybe we need to go down without being told. We go to schools, look at the situation there, we want to see the nature of the school, how things happen. We might visit at night to see dormitories,' he told reporters after the Madani Teachers Appreciation event officiated by Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek. He added that school principals and headmasters were instructed by the Ministry to lead chants of 'Kami Benci Buli' (We Hate Bullying) before and after each school session to instil a sense of abhorrence for bullying in the hearts and minds of students and pupils. He also revealed that the Ministry would improve security features in schools, especially boarding schools, to curb bullying incidents such as adding the number of closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras and the number of dormitory wardens. He urged all parties, including teachers, Parent-Teacher Associations and local communities, to play their roles in ensuring the safety of students in dormitories, especially at night. He also urged the public to refrain from gathering in front of or boycotting SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha in Limauan, Kinarut, Sabah. He said fairness must also be extended to the school's students and teachers, while safeguarding their emotional and psychological well-being. 'I believe the authorities will carry out their duties to the best of their ability. 'At the Ministry level, the Minister will provide full support,' he said. Azam reiterated the Ministry's call for the public to avoid negative actions against the school, such as demonstrations at its premises. He said the Ministry had taken measures to strengthen student safety, including increasing the number of wardens and expediting the installation of closed-circuit television cameras. 'I have directed the Inspectorate Board to conduct daily safety audits for schools and hostels, with immediate reporting.' * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Sun
4 days ago
- The Sun
Education Ministry orders spot checks on schools to curb bullying
KUALA TERENGGANU: The Education Ministry has directed state education directors and district officers to perform unannounced school inspections to address bullying. Education director-general Dr Mohd Azam Ahmad stated that officials must also visit boarding schools at night to observe student living conditions. 'We might visit schools unexpectedly to assess the environment and dormitories,' he told reporters after the MADANI Teachers Appreciation Event. School principals have been instructed to lead anti-bullying chants before and after sessions to reinforce student awareness. The ministry plans to enhance school security, including more CCTV cameras and dormitory wardens. Dr Mohd Azam urged teachers, PTAs, and communities to collaborate in ensuring student safety, particularly at night. - Bernama
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- New Straits Times
Report on safety audit in schools out in three months
KUALA LUMPUR: The Education Ministry (MOE) will present the findings of a safety audit, including on cases of bullying, in all its educational institutions within the next three months. Education director-general Dr Mohd Azam Ahmad said the existing standard operating procedures (SOPs) and guidelines for disciplinary issues will also be reviewed. He said the audit report would be presented to the MOE's top management. "The MOE will take several key measures to ensure the safety of all educational institutions under its supervision. "This includes improving school safety SOPs and measures to address disciplinary issues, including bullying, in all MOE institutions. "The existing SOPs and guidelines will be reviewed to ensure they remain relevant to current and future needs. "The safety audit will be conducted immediately in all educational institutions, including boarding schools and hostels," he said in a statement. Mohd Azam said the existing complaint system, including the Bullying Complaint Portal, would also be reformed to make it more accessible, adding it would include an anonymous option to protect the identity of complainants and witnesses. The ministry will also form an Educational Institution Safety Reform Committee to strengthen safety measures. "The committee will comprise academics, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), experts from various fields, the police, and the parent-community-private sector involvement (PIBKS) group. "There will be zero tolerance for bullying. Firm action will be taken, including suspension and expulsion from school. "The Bangkit Bermaruah intervention programme, focusing on community service and character development, will be introduced specifically for students suspended from school," he said. Mohd Azam said administrators, teachers, and officers at district education offices and state education departments who fail to manage bullying complaints according to the existing guidelines would face action. Meanwhile, psychosocial support will continue to be strengthened at every level to ensure the well-being of students, teachers, and the entire school community. "Counselling teachers will play a vital role in prevention and intervention efforts to address bullying. "At the same time, the MOE urges all parties to work together to address bullying comprehensively and in an integrated manner. "Creating a safe school ecosystem is a shared responsibility," he added.
The Sun
4 days ago
- The Sun
MOE announces zero tolerance policy against school bullying
PETALING JAYA: The Ministry of Education (MOE) will roll out a series of reforms and measures to safeguard the safety and well-being of students, teachers, and the wider school community. In a statement, today, ministry director-general Dr Mohd Azam Ahmad said administrators, teachers, and officers at district and state education offices who fail to handle bullying complaints in line with existing guidelines will face disciplinary action. 'There will be no compromise on bullying offences. Firm action, including suspension and expulsion, will be taken against offenders,' he said. The reforms include enhancing school safety standard operating procedures (SOP) and introducing stronger measures to address disciplinary issues, particularly bullying, across all MOE institutions. 'The current SOPs and guidelines will be reviewed to ensure they remain relevant to present and future needs,' Mohd Azam said. A safety audit will be carried out immediately in all educational institutions, including fully residential schools and daily hostels, focusing on compliance with all safety-related SOPs. The findings will be presented to MOE's top management within three months. The ministry will also reform the existing complaint system, including the Bullying Complaint Portal, to make it more user-friendly and introduce an anonymous reporting option to protect complainants and witnesses. An MOE Institutional Safety Reform Committee will be formed, comprising academics, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), subject-matter experts, police representatives, and members of the Parent, Community and Private Sector Involvement network. Psychosocial support will also continue to be strengthened at every level to ensure the well-being of students, teachers, and the entire school community. Mohd Azam said the ministry will also launch the Bangkit Bermaruah intervention programme, focusing on community service and character development, specifically for students suspended from school. 'Guidance and counselling teachers play a vital role in prevention and intervention efforts to address bullying. 'At the same time, MOE urges all parties to work together to tackle the problem in a comprehensive and coordinated manner. 'Creating a safe school ecosystem is a shared responsibility,' he said. The reforms come in the wake of a string of bullying cases this year that have sparked public outrage and renewed calls for education system reforms. Most recently, the case of Zara Qairina, who died on July 16 after allegedly falling from the third floor of her school hostel at SMA Tun Datu Mustafa in Papar, Sabah, raised suspicions of foul play linked to bullying. The Attorney-General's Chambers has since ordered her body exhumed for a post-mortem, with the police carrying out the procedure. The autopsy was completed on Sunday. While in June, a Form Two student at an MRSM in Besut alleged he was assaulted by a group of senior hostelmates, suffering injuries to his abdomen, ribs, and back. Six students involved in the incident were expelled immediately.
