KUALA LUMPUR: School complaint boxes intended for anonymous reporting of bullying are failing, with students saying they feel exposed and unsafe, says Women, Children and Community Development Select Committee (WCCDSC) chair Yeo Bee Yin.
She described criticism of the boxes as one of the most unexpected findings from Parliament’s first Children’s Town Hall, with the committee having previously regarded the boxes as a workable solution.
“After hearing their input today, we realised that although the boxes are supposed to be anonymous, they are placed in locations that are far too exposed,” Yeo told reporters following the town hall.
She said the feedback, along with other concerns raised during the session, would be used to refine the committee’s recommendations.
“From input like this, and many others we received today, we can fine-tune our proposals to the ministry to improve the policies and guidelines.
“We will recommend that complaint boxes be placed in less exposed areas so that children feel safe and their privacy is protected,” she added.
“The students stressed privacy very strongly, and I can see how much they value it. In the new guidelines, we need to look at how children’s privacy can be better safeguarded in our regulations and policies.”
Yeo admitted that she was taken aback by some of the feedback, including reports that complaints could quickly spread among teachers and students, leaving pupils feeling that their privacy had been violated.
“I was very surprised. Again, all of this comes back to privacy. If we look at the current misconduct and bullying guidelines in the Education Ministry, privacy is not prioritised. Going forward, we will propose that privacy be made a key priority,” Yeo said.
WCCDSC deputy chair Rodziah Ismail said she was struck by the students’ lack of confidence in the reporting system.
“When I asked whether they understood the bullying complaint system, they said they did. But they do not believe the system works,” she said, adding that this highlighted the need for the ministry to reinforce both the system and the responsibilities of teachers so that it could function more effectively.
Rodziah added that many students feel teachers are not taking bullying seriously, stressing that the ministry needs to strengthen both the system and the role of educators.
She reiterated that the role of teachers needs improvement, and suggested that the ministry consider where educators are taking bullying concerns seriously and where they are not.
Rodziah concluded that the committee should also consider whether having alternative channels is needed to ensure students feel their concerns are heard and addressed.
A total of 110 students, aged 14 to 16, from 44 schools across Klang Valley and Putrajaya, attended the town hall.
The input gathered during the session will be compiled for another committee meeting next week to finalise its recommendations.
“We will prepare the report and submit it to the Speaker. If time permits, we hope to table it in this sitting and debate it in the next Parliament sitting,” Yeo said.
Also present were Mas Gading MP Mordi Bimol, Kapar MP Dr Halimah Ali, Unicef representative Robert Gass and the Children’s Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia, Dr Farah Nini Dusuki.
