PETALING JAYA: Appropriate intervention measures to address risky behaviours in students including the addiction to mobile games and digital devices have been implemented, says the Education Ministry.
For this purpose, the ministry said guidance and counselling teachers in schools have embarked on a focused counselling programme as an intervention measure for students.
“The approaches such as guidance, counselling, and continuous intervention will help a student who is involved (in these activities) engage towards a positive behavioural change,” it said in a written reply in the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday (March 10).
Lukanisman Awang Sauni (GPS - Sibuti) had asked whether the ministry was looking into the problems of mobile game and digital devices addiction among students under the age of 18.
The ministry added that school authorities too have embarked on various programmes and activities to encourage a healthy lifestyle consisting of sports and co-curricular activities.
Among the activities that are being implemented are such as leadership courses, sports, games and art activities.
“The involvement of students in these activities will prevent them from engaging in unhealthy activities such as addiction to mobile games and digital devices,” it said.
To control the use of digital devices by students, the ministry said that they do not allow for mobile phones to be brought to school areas including hostels.
It said that they have also issued circular containing guidelines for students bringing personal devices to school during the teaching and learning (PdPR) period in schools.
It added that the Program Ekspresi Anak Remaja Lestari (PEARL) is also being implemented with the aims of addressing risking behaviours among students through early detection, appropriate intervention methods and integrated monitoring.
The ministry also said that the role of parents and guardians are also important to address this issue as students are outside schooling hours most of the time and are in the care of their families.
“With this, the cooperation of parents and guardians are also important to educate, control and monitor their children including the responsible use of digital devices,” it said, adding that the ministry also encourages the cooperations between the school authorities with the Parents and Teachers Association as well as the community in planning and implementing appropriate programmes to deal with these issues.
