KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Doris Sophia Brodi (GPS-Sri Aman) urged Putrajaya to reform the national education system, citing a surge in bullying and sexual offence cases among students as evidence of a moral and disciplinary breakdown in schools.
She said the trend reflects a “fragile generation” produced by an education system in which teachers fear enforcing discipline, and called for holistic reforms during the 2026 Supply Bill debate in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday.
“Discipline used to be the foundation of building a person. When I was in school back in the 1970s, even small mistakes like not wearing socks, failing to complete homework, or having slightly torn books, would be met with punishment.
“It wasn’t because teachers were cruel, but because they wanted to instil a sense of responsibility, respect and self-worth.
“Today, in the name of protecting emotions and well-being, everyone wants to be treated gently, and as a result, we have raised a fragile generation,” she said.
She added that teachers now fear taking disciplinary action, while schools worry about being blamed for any incident.
“The system has become paralysed, and it is our children who are paying the price,” she said.
Doris said more than 3,000 cases of bullying were reported between 2022 and 2024, with nearly 60 per cent occurring in schools, citing statistics from the police, and 400 cases of molestation and rape involving underage victims were recorded last year alone.
She also brought up the tragic incident in Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, where a Form Four student was fatally stabbed by a younger schoolmate.
“This is truly heartbreaking and deeply concerning. What has happened to our teenagers and schools?” she questioned.
Doris called on the Ministry of Education (MoE) to use its RM66.2-billion allocation under Budget 2026 not just to construct new buildings and laboratories, but to “restore the soul of the education system”.
She proposed several reforms, including the introduction of a compulsory empathy and compassion module in schools to teach students how to value human dignity, reject violence, and respect differences.
“This module is a lifeline for our children,” she said.
Doris also urged the government to increase the number of counsellors in schools, recommending a ratio of one counsellor for every 200 students, compared to the current one for every 400 to 500 students, to improve mental health support.
“A single counsellor handling hundreds of students is simply not sustainable,” she stressed.
Furthermore, she called for holistic collaboration between the Education Ministry, the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM), and the Ministry of Home Affairs (KDN), to strengthen counselling, cyber safety, and trauma recovery systems for victims of bullying and abuse.
“Every case of bullying and sexual harassment must be recorded and analysed according to the school type, location, age and gender. Only then can we ensure that the RM66.2-billion allocation brings real impact, not just empty statistics,” she said.
Doris also called for the implementation of teacher training and capacity-building programmes to help educators detect early signs of bullying and provide basic psychological support.
“We can build more schools and pass more laws, but if our children’s souls are left empty, the nation’s future will crumble. Budget 2026 must be a budget that builds character, not just walls, floors and toilets,” she said.
Doris concluded her speech with a call to rebuild moral integrity and empathy as the foundation of national progress.
“Only by nurturing individuals with good character, compassion, and the courage to reject injustice can we build an inclusive, humane and resilient Malaysia for generations to come,” she said.
