PETALING JAYA: Schools in Melaka have been directed to strengthen safety measures following an incident in which a 13-year-old student allegedly attempted to attack two schoolmates last Thursday.
The Melaka Education Department (JPN) issued the directive after the student allegedly chased one of the schoolmates while armed with a penknife.
“Melaka JPN has instructed all schools in the state to strengthen safety monitoring measures.
“These include conducting surprise inspections, using metal detectors where appropriate and strictly enforcing the prohibition on bringing sharp objects to school,” it said in a statement yesterday.
In addition to enhancing security measures, the department said it is also focusing on comprehensive assessments of students’ mental and emotional well-being, particularly those undergoing treatment or requiring psychosocial support.
“The Healthy Mind (Minda Sihat) programme, which includes regular mental health screenings, counselling sessions and intervention programmes will continue to be strengthened to support students’ overall well-being.”
The department also said an internal investigation is underway to determine whether provocation led to the incident.
It added that stern action would be taken against the student if found guilty.
Separately, in a parliamentary written reply on Thursday, the Education Ministry said it uses data-driven assessments, monitoring, audits and compliance checks to evaluate the actual level of safety in schools and teacher education institutions.
According to Bernama, the School Inspectorate assesses the effectiveness of school safety measures based on seven key indicators.
These include three-year student attendance trends, data from the Sistem Sahsiah Diri Murid, findings from the Student Voice and Teacher Voice questionnaires as well as surprise inspections, the ministry said.
The assessment also covers the effectiveness of collaboration between schools, the police and alumni, in addition to evaluating physical security measures and the functionality of CCTV systems.
“These indicators enable the ministry to obtain a comprehensive picture of the actual level of security in schools,” the ministry said.
The ministry was responding to a question from Kangar MP Zakri Hassan on the assessment methods and indicators used to determine the actual level of safety.
