Ministry: Standard guidelines for schools on tackling disciplinary issues

Putrajaya: Schools will be able to tackle disciplinary issues in a uniform manner from next year, with the release of an official book on school regulations by the Education Ministry.

The move comes with the upgrading of the Education Ordinance 1957 in order to manage various disciplinary issues in schools.

Deputy Education Minister Chong Sin Voon said the new version will cover issues like bullying, truancy, drugs, caning as well as the influence of militant groups, such as Islamic State.

“The upgraded version of the ordinance will include all the circulars distributed so far, compiled into one book.

“We hope to complete the draft and implement it next year,” he said at a press conference today after a meeting with the main committee responsible for the measures to curb disciplinary issues among students.

Choong said there are new disciplinary issues to tackle that are caused by social media and for schools to know the “do’s and don’ts” when faced with social problems.

For instance, he said, some afternoon session students who leave home early go to cybercafes instead of heading to their respective schools directly.

“This is a different type of truancy. Once the upgraded regulations are released, schools will inform parents that it is wrong for kids to go to cybercafes in uniforms, ” he said.

Earlier, he had a meeting with representatives from the police, army, and non-governmental organisations.

Chong said schools will no longer have to wait for a complaint to be lodged before taking action against students.

“Some schools have started taking action based on reports in social media. We had directed them to do so.

“There are some school bully videos that have re-emerged after two or three years. Some are from neighbouring countries.

“Under the new school regulations, schools need to act on it immediately, in order to kill off the issue,” he said.

Counselling will be made compulsory for all social issues.

“Prior to this, it was up to the school head to decide. Now, there will be a committee to look at all displinary issues.”

He added that a ruling will also be made on issues pertaining to the possible influence of militant groups, like Islamic State, in pre-schools.

Schools will also be better informed on the meting out of punishments, like caning, and the specific places where the caning of a student can be carried out.

To curb drug-use among students, schools will work closely with the police to carry out urine test on suspected groups.

Spot checks will also be held with the cooperation of the National Drug Agency.

Mukah Pages bring you trending news media with Free Malaysia Today http://ift.tt/1TOiHBY