KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 13 — Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek called on educators to remain calm and give the Ministry of Education (MOE) room to explain the School Pupil Protection Policy, which has recently caused concern among many parties.
She said the policy was designed to ensure comprehensive protection for all parties dealing with pupils, with priority given to the safety of students, teachers and the entire school community.
Fadhlina added that the policy also provides detailed guidelines on the responsibilities of all parties, as well as the actions to be taken should any untoward incident occur at schools.
“I have instructed the Education director-general and MOE’s Legal Adviser to hold a special session with stakeholders to address the concerns raised by teachers.
“MOE is committed to ensuring that every policy is executed carefully and responsibly to create a safe school environment,” she said in a Facebook post today.
The policy, announced via a Professional Circular (SPI) dated July 1, requires staff and external parties with official dealings with schools and their members to sign a School Pupil Protection Policy Compliance Pledge as proof of their commitment to pupil safety.
The SPI outlines five main areas of education reform, namely mental health; reproductive and social health education; child sexual violence and substance abuse prevention; pupil protection policy; teacher welfare; and pupil voice.
Meanwhile, in a separate statement, the National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP)said it is working to hold negotiations with MOE to have the pledge withdrawn and replaced with other, more professional measures.
NUTP secretary-general Fouzi Singon said that while the union supports MOE’s efforts to keep pupils safe and protected at school, it deems the pledge requirement inappropriate and believes it undermines teachers’ ability to provide the best protection.
He further argued that the document risks exposing teachers to civil lawsuits in the future. — Bernama
