An 16 years old student being kill by other student at the toilet of the school —LOW BOON TAT/The Star
PETALING JAYA: A crisis of ethics and discipline is plaguing Malaysian schools, leading experts to call for immediate reforms to mend the moral compass of students.
Alliance for a Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the decline in instilling noble values in students has led to the culture of violence in school.
“Mental health development among students is affected when they lack these values,” he said.
“They lack the ability to control their emotions, potentially leading them to turn to criminal activities.”
Lee said that while schools already have task forces in place, like counselling sessions, the government should closely identify and strengthen critical areas to prevent such incidents.
“The government should also collaborate with academicians and other experts. Open collaboration could help prevent and mitigate violence in schools,” he added.
Lee supports Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who recently said that the education system focuses too heavily on academic achievements while neglecting moral and ethical development.
“Passing exams is important, but it’s not everything. Good character matters once you leave school,” he said.
“You are judged by your ethics and behaviour when you enter the workplace or college.”
He further noted that discipline in schools has been deteriorating over the years.
“It has to be tighter and stricter. There should be teachers dedicated to handling disciplinary issues among students,” he said.
He also emphasised that parents play an equally important role in shaping students’ attitudes and behaviours.
Parent Action Group for Education chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim said currently there is a profound erosion of values in schools.
“A crime in a classroom signals the collapse of discipline, respect and moral grounding,” she said.
She believes this collapse is fuelled by several factors, including teachers’ authority being undermined, students being desensitised by social media, and a declining fear of consequences due to weak policies and defensive parents.
“What we need is to urgently reform the disciplinary framework by moving beyond punishment to a whole-school approach that reinforces values, gives teachers stronger backing and involves parents as partners,” she added.
“The goal is to rebuild students’ moral compass through a shared culture of responsibility and respect.”
Noor Azimah acknowledged that frequent spot-checks are beneficial but stressed the issue requires a wider, community-based response.
“Parents, peers, parents of peers, counsellors, teachers, siblings and the community all have to be alert to potential cases. And they should discuss it, even though the conversations may be difficult,” she said.
Similarly, Malaysian Association for Education secretary Hamidi Mookkaiyah Abdullah stressed that teachers should be trained to identify early signs of aggression among students and moral value lessons should be integrated into the curriculum.
He said that security measures such as closed-circuit television (CCTV) and trained guards can be introduced when necessary but insisted it must be done without turning schools into restrictive environments.
Hamidi also advocated for a guidance-focused approach.
“Instead of transferring or expelling problematic students, schools should work to resolve issues directly and guide them towards improvement,” he said.
The Kedah Malay Teachers Association has proposed that monitoring and safety audits be carried out in all schools following a series of incidents, particularly the recent cases of sexual misconduct in schools.
Its president Syed Ahmad Zawawi Syed Akil said the Education Ministry and state education departments must ensure that schools in their respective states implement robust safety protocols.
“A physical safety audit in schools must be conducted immediately, taking into account secluded areas, CCTV surveillance, access control systems and teacher supervision.
“The recent incidents should serve as a warning and a catalyst for reviewing school safety policies nationwide.
“This is an important matter and must be implemented. The association calls on the education community to be vigilant and proactive in addressing issues in schools,” he said in a statement yesterday.
He added that the association strongly condemns sexual crimes, as such acts violate human rights principles, the well-being of children, and the trust placed in schools as safe institutions.
