Latest news with #MohdAzamAhmad
Malaysian Reserve
2 hours 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
6 hours 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 Star
6 hours ago
- The Star
Spot checks to curb bullying
Disturbing trend: Students bullying a student while another one records the incident, as posed by models in this file photo. PETALING JAYA: All state education directors and district education officers have been ordered to conduct spot checks on schools to curb bullying in school. The officials will also have to visit boarding schools at night to monitor the situation there, and get to know and understand how boarding school students live, Education director-general Dr Mohd Azam Ahmad said. '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 said after the Madani Teachers Appreciation Event officiated by Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek in Kuala Terengganu. School principals and headmasters have also been told to lead chants of 'Kami Benci Buli' (We Hate Bullying) before and after each school session to instil a sense of abhorrence for bullying. Azam's statement came hours after the ministry announced that all educational institutions will undergo a safety audit to ensure they comply with standard operating procedures, especially in measures on disciplinary issues, including bullying. Fully residential schools (SBP) and daily boarding schools (asrama harian) will also be involved in the audit, which will be carried out immediately, the ministry said. Azam told reporters the ministry would improve security features in schools, especially boarding schools, by adding more CCTV cameras and dormitory wardens to curb bullying incidents. In an earlier statement, the ministry said it was taking important steps to ensure that safety issues in all educational institutions under its purview are preserved. 'The audit report will be presented to the ministry within three months,' the statement read. 'The existing complaints system, including the Bullying Complaints Portal, will be reformed. 'It will be simplified and include an option for anonymity to protect the identity of complainants and witnesses.' An educational institution safety reform committee will also be established. 'Members of this committee will include academics, NGOs, experts from various fields, the police, and representatives from the Parents, Community and Private Sector Involvement (PIBKS).' The ministry also said there would be no compromise on bullying offences. Firm action, including suspension and expulsion from school, will be taken. 'The 'Bangkit Bermaruah' intervention programme, focusing on community service and character development, will be introduced specifically for students who are suspended from school. 'Administrators, teachers, as well as officers at district education offices and state education departments who fail to manage bullying complaints in accordance with existing guidelines will also face disciplinary action.' Psychosocial support, the ministry said, would continue to be strengthened to ensure the well-being of students, teachers and the school community. 'Guidance and counselling teachers play an important role in prevention and intervention efforts to address bullying. Creating a safe school ecosystem is our shared responsibility.'
Daily Express
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
State education directors, district education officers ordered to conduct spot checks on schools
Published on: Monday, August 11, 2025 Published on: Mon, Aug 11, 2025 By: Bernama Text Size: For illustrative purposes only. KUALA TERENGGANU: The Education Ministry (MOE) has ordered all state education directors and district education officers to conduct spot checks on schools to curb bullying in school. Education director-general Dr Mohd Azam Ahmad 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. Advertisement '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 instill 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. * 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 Star
18 hours ago
- Politics
- The Star
Education Ministry orders spot checks on schools to curb bullying
KUALA TERENGGANU: The Education Ministry has ordered all state education directors and district education officers to conduct spot checks on schools to curb bullying. Education director-general Dr Mohd Azam Ahmad (pic) said officials also have to visit boarding schools at night, not only to monitor but 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 among students. He also said that the ministry would improve security features to curb bullying in schools, such as adding more closed-circuit television 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. – Bernama
