Parents group wants stringent steps taken to reform bullies

PETALING JAYA: While expulsion may not be the right method to deal with school bullies, stringent steps must be taken to reform those who are not hardcore, says a parent action group.

Speaking to FMT, Parent Action Group for Education (PAGE) head Noor Azimah Rahim said she agreed with the suggestion of Deputy Education Minister II Chong Sin Woon that school bullies should not be expelled from schools as they can be rehabilitated to be better students.

However, she said, there were degrees to bullying.

“We agree with Chong provided he can assure us that stringent steps are being taken to reform the less hardcore bullies in schools.

“Otherwise innocent students will continue to get the full brunt of the menace,” she said.

She said hardcore cases require proper and effective reform establishments.

“Ideally, we would like to see proper reform schools being developed. Hardcore bullies, after numerous warnings, should be sent to such establishments before they are returned to schools.

“Less hardcore bullies will require intense guidance from school counsellors and teachers with firm support from their parents.

“The public needs more assurance that schools have a strict regime towards bullies.”

She said PAGE had always advocated a zero-tolerance stand on bullying but we do not condone expelling students.

“We do not condone expelling as it is running away from the problem and passing the buck to society.”

In a statement in June, chairman of Suriana Welfare Society Malaysia James Nayagam said parents of students in a school in Perak had formed a vigilante group who were present outside the school premises before the school session begins and after the school session ends to ensure student safety.

“Parents take turns to be present to monitor the safety of students as they arrive and depart from school.

“Another effective method is to conduct talks on human rights in schools to educate children on the United Nations’ Rights of The Child. Studies show that in Malaysia, the incidences of bullying dropped by 30% in schools where such talks were conducted.

In a recent report, Chong had said that school bullies should not be expelled from schools and that teachers should counsel and rehabilitate such students to return to normal life.

He also said expelling such students would worsen their behavior as they would feel shunned by society and they would also be deprived of a sound education. -FMT