Safety and resilience: (From left) TAR UMT Assoc prof Dr Lim Chia Yien, Prof Ananda Kumar, Nazrul, Ong, Imatul, Chuah, Tan and Wong posing for a picture after the forum at the TAR UMT campus in Kuala Lumpur. — LOW LAY PHON/The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: Gaps in Malaysia’s school system are limiting timely intervention against bullying and preventing early identification of students facing mental health challenges, educators warn.
Datuk Dr Monna Ong Siew Siew, associate professor at Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT) and lead researcher of the Safe School 2.0 initiative, highlighted weaknesses including incomplete national psychological screening, high student-to-counsellor ratios, a punitive approach to discipline, fragmented inter-agency data and limited professional training for teachers.
