IPOH – The Education Ministry (MoE) will study the proposal to create the post of full-time wardens at residential schools to tackle various problems including bullying.
Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said, however, it should be refined based on the full report on bullying cases – including the recent incident involving Form One students at Mara Junior Science College (MRSM) in Kuala Kangsar near here.
“Thank you for the views regarding this case and we need to wait for the report from relevant parties before taking any action. The ministry will study the views further,” he told reporters after witnessing the oath-taking ceremony of the Perak Chinese School Boards Association’s new leaders here today.
The National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) president Aminuddin Awang was reported as saying that the union had raised the issue as well as suggested the proposal many times before.
Aminuddin was reported to have said that hostel wardens would be appointed among teachers who also teach daily at the schools, and they would have to look after and supervise hostel students as well.
Asked about whether the MoE would hold a meeting with NUTP and Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) regarding the proposal, Dr Mah said further action would have to be based on the detailed report on bullying cases that were reported.
So far, police have detained 10 students aged 13 including a 15-year-old student after a group of youths, believed to be hostel students, allegedly punched and kicked a peer.
The incident, believed to have occurred between 1am and 2am on December 9, went viral on social media via several video clips lasting between 13 and 30 seconds showing a student being kicked in the back and punched several times, sparking outrage from viewers.
Meanwhile, Mah said further investigations were underway on another alleged bullying incident at a residential school in Pahang last Friday, adding that the MoE was waiting for the report regarding the matter.
Media reported that four 14-year-old students were allegedly locked in a room for two hours and beaten by eight seniors who were enraged after the four were found watching videos on a mobile phone.
The eight Form Four and Five students allegedly locked the four victims in the room before punching, kicking and caning the juniors.
At today’s event, Mah said among the issues discussed were ways to ensure the strengthening and rehabilitation of learning and teaching in schools during the Covid-19 pandemic. – Bernama, December 12, 2021
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