Children's safety on school grounds a shared responsibility, says Fadhlina

SHAH ALAM: Schools taking the initiative to ensure student safety is something to be proud of, says Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek.

She said it was every school's responsibility to keep students safe whenever they are on school grounds.

“It is good to see initiatives being taken by schools to address the recent fake kidnapping calls issue," she told reporters after the inauguration ceremony for the construction of SJK(C) Regent Elmina in Shah Alam on Monday (June 26).

She said safety on the premises must be prioritised by every member of the school staff and was the most important aspect of schoolchildren's wellbeing.

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Fadhlina also said the ministry constantly reminded parents, school authorities and the community that they are equally responsible for security.

She was responding to a question about WhatsApp groups being created in schools after the recent issue of an accounts executive almost falling victim to a kidnapping and ransom scam call.

On another matter, Fadhlina said the construction of the new school is a "big commitment" to the township's education ecosystem.

“The ministry will help to monitor the development process of the school that will be completed by 2025.

"We also see that this school has a lack... of teachers and students and therefore we hope that it becomes a choice for the community," she added.

The school will be built upon a 2ha (five-acre) piece of land worth RM20mil.