SIBU: Every school student is a user of educational services and they have the absolute right to be in a safe environment, as provided for in the Children Act 2001 (Act 611).
However, the reality today is that this right is increasingly under threat when schools, which should be safe places for learning, are increasingly marred by crimes that threaten the safety of students.
The National Consumer Action Council (MTPN) Sarawak has expressed deep concern over the increase in serious crime cases in educational institutions, including attempted murder, sexual assault and physical violence, which is described as a systemic failure to protect students’ rights.
MTPN Sarawak’s President, Lucas Lau Sieu Sing, said it was time for all parties to realise that students were not just “students”, but also legitimate users of services provided by the nation through the education system.
Therefore, any failure to protect them was not just a disciplinary problem, but a violation of fundamental rights guaranteed by law.
“The Children Act 2001 (Act 611) clearly states that every child has the right to live and grow up in a safe environment and to be protected from any form of abuse, violence or neglect,” he said yesterday.
According to him, the increase in crime incidents in schools shows that the basic principles in the Act have been blatantly violated.
In fact, the National Child Protection Policy also outlines the needs of society, including educational institutions, to ensure that the best interests of children are always a priority.
In this context, MTPN Sarawak urged that immediate and firm action be taken to strengthen the safety of students in schools.
Lau expressed regret over criminal incidents occurring in school areas, including toilets and secluded corners that are poorly monitored, which have left students vulnerable and unprotected.
He suggested that schools re-implement the Buddy System as one of the basic mechanisms for protecting fellow students.
This system, he said, not only reduces the risk of students becoming victims when alone, but also helps build a culture of responsibility and togetherness among students.
In addition, Lau also suggested that schools set stricter rules for enclosed areas such as toilets, which are often high-risk locations for cases of sexual and physical assault.
According to him, female students in particular should be instructed to only use these facilities in pairs or groups, so that their safety is better guaranteed.
At the same time, he urged that teachers and school staff be given intensive training to identify early signs of aggressive behaviour among students, as well as be provided with basic skills in crisis management and counseling.
He added that more frequent monitoring in isolated areas should also be done more consistently.
Lau stressed that the physical and mental safety of students is not an issue of choice, but a legal responsibility that must be implemented comprehensively by all parties involved in the education system.
“If we fail to protect students in their places of learning, we have not only failed as educators or administrators, but we have also failed as a society. The law is in place, the policy has been outlined, now it is up to us to act,” he said.
MTPN Sarawak also called on the Ministry of Education and security agencies to intensify efforts to create a truly safe school environment, free from any form of criminal threat.
“Students are the most valuable young consumers. They have the right to demand safety. And we all have the obligation to ensure that this right does not continue to be violated,” Lau added.
