KUALA LUMPUR - The Education Ministry is ready to increase the number of counseling teachers in schools if bullying cases increase.
Deputy Education Minister Lim Hui Ying said immediate action must be taken to curb criminal cases involving students.
"The ministry will make sure that additional counseling teachers will be provided in the event that bullying incidents rise. This is due to the fact that individuals engaged in bullying cases require suitable assistance.
"Counseling is very important for us to know the reason why students are involved in bullying and to provide guidance to those who are victims as well," she said in the Dewan Rakyat, today.
She said this in response to an additional question from Dr Ahmad Fakhruddin Fakhrurazi (PN-Kuala Kedah) who asked if the Education Ministry has planned to assign counseling teachers to schools in order to address bullying incidents that increased.
Meanwhile, Lim said from January to October this year, a total of 4,994 bullying cases were reported in all schools.
She said the total increased compared to 3,887 cases recorded last year while 326 cases were recorded in 2021.
"All these cases have been investigated and additional steps have been taken as well, particularly in the areas of guidance and counseling.
"Efforts to deal with this case of bullying do not only involve the school but also require the cooperation of parents, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the community," she said in response to an additional question by Datuk Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik (PH - Balik Pulau).
Bakhtiar asked about how many cases of bullying involving school students have been referred by the Education Ministry.