PETALING JAYA: A safety audit in all educational institutions is timely, but follow-up action is crucial to ensure its effectiveness, say stakeholders.
There has been a growing number of disciplinary issues and bullying cases, and this should not be allowed to continue, says educationist and former Universiti Malaya professor Tan Sri Dr T. Marimuthu.
“I’m happy that the Education Ministry is reviewing the SOP and also trying to establish a safety reform committee,” he said.
The ministry said a safety audit would be carried out immediately in all educational institutions.
It also said an educational institution safety reform committee will be set up.
Marimuthu called for early intervention at school level, noting that teachers are often able to detect behavioural problems before they escalate.
Effective prevention, he said, requires a strong partnership between schools, families and the wider community, like NGOs.
Parent Action Group for Education Malaysia (Page) chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim said the immediate safety audit can be useful as a rapid diagnostic tool.
“However, its effectiveness depends on depth, independence and follow-through,” she said, adding that a rushed audit risks becoming a box-ticking exercise.
She said the safety reform committee was a positive move, especially if it included diverse voices.
“But a committee alone risks being symbolic unless empowered with enforcement authority and timelines,” she said.
To ensure real, long-term improvements rather than temporary fixes, she said the audit results must be made public (with sensitive details protected) so schools are accountable to parents, communities and the media.
She also recommended embedding safety in school culture through mandatory staff training, peer-support systems for students, and integration of safety awareness into the curriculum.
Malaysian Association for Education secretary Hamidi Mookkaiyah Abdullah said that while the audit and committee were positive steps, the real challenge lies in turning these into meaningful action.
“Key priorities should include defining who is responsible for what, a real-time monitoring system, ensuring every report and issue leads to visible action, and fostering a culture that values safety and learning.”
Melaka Action Group for Parents in Education chairman Mak Chee Kin stressed that real change must begin with school leadership.
He urged the ministry to ensure principals are appointed based not only on administrative ability but also their capacity for counselling and relationship-building.
“Principals must be all-rounders, not just administrators.
“They must engage with students and teachers regularly, and this should be one of the key performance indicators for them.”
