KUALA LUMPUR: The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry is open to working with the Education Ministry to provide psychosocial support to students and families affected by traumatic incidents.
Its minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said that while the Education Ministry already had thousands of counsellors who received appropriate training, her ministry was prepared to work with them if further support was needed.
She was responding to questions on whether support would be provided to the family of 16-year-old Irene Sofiya Mohd Khairool Faisal, who was found with multiple injuries in the school hall after extra classes on Saturday (Oct 3).
“The Education Ministry has its own counsellors. So, if necessary, we can provide support or visit the family to provide psychosocial assistance if they need it.
“So far, no one has approached us for such assistance. We also do not want to approach a family that has only just gone through such a difficult experience, and we can do it later.
“But the ministry is open to working together with the Education Ministry,” she told reporters after officiating the Marital Happiness Forum, in conjunction with National Counselling Month, on Monday (Oct 5).
According to reports, the victim was discovered by her grandmother, who had gone to the school to look for her after she failed to return home following tuition classes.
Nancy also said there had been no formal discussions between the two ministries on providing support in such cases, although the matter had previously been discussed informally.
“We had informal discussions when there was a previous case where many people spoke out about the issue.
“At that time, I suggested counselling, but it turned out that the Education Ministry does have its own counsellors and there are thousands of them.
“I believe they have also been given the appropriate training, but if they need to work together with our counsellors, we are open to it,” she said.
