‘All-round effort by parents and schools key to handling bully cases’

Chua: Parents should use the available technology to monitor their children’s activities outside the house.

COMMUNICATION plays an important role when dealing with bully cases in schools to prevent repercussions for the victims.

Xiang Lian Youth Association (Kulai) chairman Chua Jian Boon said schools played an important role in addressing such issues and should not turn a blind eye to them.

“I believe expelling the offending students is not the best option as it will create more social issues in the future.

“Constant communication not only creates a strong bond between the parents and child but also helps the parent to protect the child,” he said.

He opined that parents should take advantage of the available technology to monitor their children’s activities outside the house.

“These days, schools allow children to bring phones to school, and parents should be aware of their children’s activities during their free time, school hours and while they are with their social groups.

“School counsellors can also help by spreading awareness of bullying and be the first to respond when receiving reports from students,” he said, adding that this would create a safer learning environment for all students.

Chua said there were times when schools would sweep such cases under the rug to protect their institution’s reputation.

“But what good is a reputation if a student’s mental and emotional safety is neglected?

“The best approach is to create more platforms for students to speak up and report any wrongdoings by their peers, and approach the matter with a sincere effort to help and not just to save the school’s reputation,” he said.

Meanwhile, Johor youth council socio-economic and community development committee member Ibnu Affan Jaafar said schools should update their Students Discipline System (Sistem Sahsiah Diri Murid or SSDM) and facilitate reporting by victims or witnesses of bullying.

“Currently, the report can only be made from the teacher’s point of view.

“Sometimes bully victims are afraid to come forward as they fear the situation may get worse or they will be humiliated by the teachers,” he said.

He stressed that the victims should be allowed to report their complaints to the District Education Office and State Education Department without any intervention from the teachers.

“This will improve the SSDM reporting method by enabling precise action to be taken when bullying occurs,” he added.