Bullying cases on downward trend: Education Ministry

KUALA LUMPUR: The percentage of students involved in bullying as recorded by the "Sistem Sahsiah Diri" (Self Assessment System) has shown a downward trend since 2012, says the education ministry.
It said the system's record showed the percentage of students who committed acts of bullying in 2012 and 2013 stood at 0.08%, going lower to 0.06% in 2014 and 2015, and 0.07% last year.
"(However) From January to June this year, 0.02% students were involved in bullying," the ministry responded in a written reply at the Dewan Rakyat today to a question by Fuziah Salleh (PKR-Kuantan) who wanted to know the latest five-year statistics for bullying cases involving primary and secondary school students and measures taken to combat it.
The ministry said family factors, individuals who become bullies, media influence, schools and the environment were identified as contributing factors.
It viewed the matter seriously and took several proactive measures to curb bullying among students in schools, including working with external agencies such as the police and Malaysian Armed Forces through the Visionary Youth Programme (Program Remaja Berwawasan).
Rehabilitation and counselling sessions have also been implemented for victims of bullying through the guidance of teachers in cooperation with parents and the National Anti-Drug Agency.
In another written reply, the ministry said 402 schools nationwide had been categorised as having disciplinary problems which required special attention from the authorities.
Of the total, 311 schools had disciplinary issues while the rest were categorised as "hot spots", the ministry said in reply to a question by Datuk Sapawi Ahmad Wasali (BN-Sipitang). — Bernama