PUTRAJAYA: The Ministry of Education (MOE) has taken immediate measures to address school safety concerns following an audit which found that only 28.94 per cent of schools have fully functioning CCTV systems.
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the finding stemmed from a Student and Hostel Safety Audit conducted by the Inspectorate last year, which involved 850 schools nationwide.
She said to bolster physical security, CCTV systems will be installed in more than 300 schools this year as part of quick-win initiatives of the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2026-2035.
“School safety is about the confidence of parents and the community's place in us (MOE).
“So, I want all state and district education offices, as well as schools, to ensure that all CCTVs are operational, with proper maintenance in place to keep them functioning,” she said at a press conference after delivering her New Year Address to the MOE staff here today.
Fadhlina said the ministry also welcomed any party willing to help equip schools with CCTV systems.
“All our initiatives involve various partners, including parent-teacher associations, the private sector and community groups. So, we should not be overly rigid at the ministry level. If people want to help, we should open the door and support them,” she said.
In a related move, Fadhlina said the new directive requiring transferring students to submit health, mental health and disciplinary records ensures schools can provide the support they need as part of the ministry’s reforms to safeguard every student’s right to education, regardless of disciplinary or mental health issues.
“So far, if there are concerns about stigma or safety, we ask parents to come forward and offer suggestions. This allows us to intervene immediately if anyone feels uncomfortable or at risk,” she said.
Director-General of Education Mohd Azam Ahmad yesterday announced that, from this school year, all transferring students must submit health, mental health, and disciplinary reports under new guidelines that tackle bullying, sexual harassment, and student safety.
