SEREMBAN, April 20 — The Ministry of Education (MoE) has urged all educational institutions under its purview to strictly adhere to guidelines on organising outdoor activities.
In a statement today, the MoE reiterated its commitment to student safety and well-being.
The ministry also expressed its condolences to the family of 14-year-old Nuqman Naufal Shamsu Fadzli, a Form Two student at Sekolah Menengah Sains Tuanku Jaafar, Kuala Pilah, who died while participating in a cross-country event yesterday.
“The MoE urges all parties to respect the privacy of the deceased’s family. At the same time, the ministry has taken immediate action to provide welfare assistance to the family,” read the statement.
According to media reports yesterday, Nuqman Naufal, who was suffering from a heart defect, collapsed during the school’s cross-country event.
Kuala Pilah deputy police chief DSP Syahrul Anuar Abdul Wahab reportedly said the victim’s father informed that his son was diagnosed with heart disease since 2016 and had been receiving treatment from the National Heart Institute for his condition.
Meanwhile, in Johor, State Education and Information Committee chairman, Aznan Tamin, emphasised the importance of schools being aware of students’ health status.
He said schools must ensure that parental consent forms are completed, as students’ health records are crucial in determining whether someone needs to be exempted from sports activities.
“We have not encountered such cases yet, but I have discussed with the Education director to take precautionary measures and exercise caution in extracurricular activities, such as cross-country events, considering the current weather conditions,” he told reporters at a Hari Raya celebration at Bukit Pelali in Kota Tinggi today. — Bernama
