THE government should establish a national action plan to address violence, bullying and mental health in schools, rather than relying mainly on tighter physical security - Children’s Protection Society Malaysia said.
Its president, Datuk Seri Nazir Ariff, said the latest death involving a child at school should prompt a broader review of how children were educated, supported and protected.
He said measures such as closed-circuit television cameras, security guards and increased surveillance had their place, but would not address the wider issues contributing to violence among children.
“We must now have the courage to ask a much deeper question: Is this only a security problem, or are we confronting a much larger societal and educational problem?” he said in a statement.
Nazir said education should go beyond examinations and academic achievement, with greater emphasis on critical thinking, empathy, conscience, conflict resolution and responsible decision-making.
Children, he said, should be taught to handle disagreements without hatred or violence, distinguish fact from falsehood and respect those who were different from them.
He also expressed concern over children’s exposure to violent content through social media, online platforms, films, television and games.
While such exposure did not automatically lead to violent behaviour, Nazir said the repeated portrayal of violence as entertainment, revenge or an acceptable response to conflict warranted greater attention.
Mental health, he said, must also be treated as part of school safety rather than addressed only after a crisis.
Bullying, social isolation, family problems, peer pressure, rejection and difficulties managing anger and other emotions could all affect a child’s wellbeing, he said.
Nazir proposed that every school have access to trained counsellors and clear referral pathways to qualified mental health professionals. Teachers should also be trained to recognise signs of serious emotional distress, bullying and social isolation.
“Counselling must not be treated as a last resort after a crisis. Early intervention must become standard practice,” he said.
He called for an independent, multidisciplinary review of school safety and child protection, covering physical security, bullying, violence, mental health, online harms, reporting procedures, school culture and early intervention.
Nazir also proposed a standardised national protocol for handling bullying, threats and violence, including safe and confidential channels for students to report concerns.
Reports, he said, should be investigated promptly, with appropriate support provided to victims and children displaying harmful behaviour.
He said critical thinking, media literacy, empathy, conflict resolution and social-emotional skills should be incorporated into everyday education rather than treated as additional examination subjects.
Nazir also urged the Government, technology companies, schools, parents and child protection organisations to work together on children’s online safety, including stronger age-appropriate safeguards, better reporting mechanisms and greater protection from harmful content.
He said parents and schools should maintain regular communication about children’s wellbeing instead of involving parents only when problems arise.
Schools should also have clear procedures to identify children experiencing serious abuse, bullying or distress, or those who may pose a risk to themselves or others.
Such systems, however, should be aimed at providing early support rather than labelling or stigmatising children, he said.
Nazir said educational success should also be assessed through indicators beyond examination results, including bullying, school violence, absenteeism, access to counselling, student wellbeing and children’s sense of safety at school.
He proposed an annual National Child Safety Report containing anonymised data on school violence, bullying, child wellbeing, counselling access and the implementation of safety measures.
“We need accountability — not just promises,” he said. - October 6, 2026
