Assoc. Prof. Datuk Dr Monna Ong Siew Siew, says student voices are central to shaping school safety policies under the Safe School 2.0 initiative.
KUALA LUMPUR: Coordination between schools, families and support agencies remains limited, leaving many students without timely help when they are in distress, says Assoc. Prof. Datuk Dr Monna Ong Siew Siew.
The Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT) academic said recent cases of student distress, bullying, emotional breakdowns and even tragic outcomes had exposed serious gaps in how schools and adults respond to young people’s struggles.
“These cases remind us that academic pressure, digital exposure, social comparison, misinformation and relentless expectations are no longer occasional concerns, but everyday realities affecting our young people,” said Ong, who is from the office of the president at TAR UMT.
She was speaking at a youth dialogue titled From Their Eyes: A Youth Dialogue on Safety, Stress and Support – Student Voice Matters, held in conjunction with the Safe School 2.0 initiative on Saturday (Dec 13).
Ong said many students suffer in silence because they fear stigma or being judged, while teachers themselves are often overwhelmed and lack basic mental health first-aid skills.
“Warning signs such as withdrawal, silence and irritability are easily missed, especially in a busy school environment,” she said.
“For too long, we believed school safety was about discipline, fences, CCTV cameras or rules. But the world has changed. A safe school is not only one that protects the body; it must also protect the mind and heart.”
She explained that Safe School 2.0 was developed as a research-driven, policy-oriented initiative to strengthen Malaysia’s school safety framework through a more holistic, evidence-based approach. The initiative rests on three main pillars: psychological safety, digital safety literacy and an accessible mental health support system for students.
“It is a vision of schools where students do not have to cope alone, where help comes early, and where every student feels respected, protected and valued,” she said.
However, Ong stressed that no framework, “no matter how strong”, could succeed without the voices of students at its core.
“In our early engagements, students shared words that touched our hearts: ‘I am scared to fail. I don’t want to burden my parents. I wish teachers would ask whether I am okay before assigning homework. When I am stressed, I keep quiet. I’m not sure who to talk to.
“These are not just quotes on paper. They are real feelings carried into young people’s sleep. They remind us that behind every school uniform is a human being with emotions, challenges and quiet battles,” she said.
Ong said the dialogue was designed as a “listening space” rather than a lecture, with students treated as key stakeholders in shaping the Safe School 2.0 proposal.
“You are the heartbeat of the education system. You understand the challenges of your generation better than anyone. Your honesty will become evidence. Your feelings will become guidance. You are not here to impress anyone. You are here to help us understand, and we are here to learn from you,” she said.
She also called on adults to rethink how they measure school safety.
“Let us imagine a Malaysia where safety is not measured by metal gates, but by the warmth, empathy and humanity within our schools,” she said.
Ong thanked the Safe School 2.0 research committee for “many days and nights” spent on surveys, research and drafting, adding that the team hoped their work would make the education system more responsive to students’ needs.
She said insights gathered from the dialogue and subsequent engagements would be used to refine the Safe School 2.0 proposal, which the team aims to submit to the Education Ministry in the first quarter of 2026.
