PETALING JAYA: Enhanced police patrols will deter students from misconduct but everyone has a role to play in keeping schools safe, say stakeholders.
National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) secretary-general Fouzi Singon, however, said police presence is not a foolproof guarantee that bad things won’t happen but it can deter students from engaging in acts like bullying and fighting after school ends.
“We cannot say that their presence will 100% put an end to all the untoward incidents, but in case something happens, help is near,“ he said.
Malaysian Association for Education secretary Hamidi Mookkaiyah Abdullah said problems in schools are not serious enough to justify police presence.
Citing the Malaysian Education Blueprint 2013-2025, he said only a small percentage of students are involved in disciplinary issues.
“Heavy police presence can create a fearful or prison-like atmosphere which undermines trust between students and teachers, and discourages communication.”
Agreeing, Melaka Action Group for Parents in Education chairman Mak Chee Kin said sudden police presence might make the school environment overly tense although it is actually safe.
“More parents may opt for private or international schools if they lose trust in the safety of national schools,” he said, adding that if police surveillance is needed, it should be friendly and community-based, not intimidating and forceful like checking students’ bags.
He also urged schools to improve safety through preventive measures such as installing CCTV cameras, hiring trained security guards and conducting regular safety talks.
SMK Shah Alam PIBG member Norliza Sahib said strong communication between parents, teachers and students prevents disciplinary issues from escalating into a bigger problem.
She said parents play the biggest role in shaping children’s behaviour.
“It’s not right to blame the school or the police. Parents must bear the responsibility of checking on their children,” she said.
Norliza called on the government and agencies such as the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to tackle harmful online influences that can affect student behaviour.
“Everyone must work together to create a safer environment for our children,” she said.
