This is the third article in a three-part series on teacher training and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) within Malaysian schools. We spoke to educationists, the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam), and the Parent Action Group for Education to gather their advice and recommendations on handling these matters effectively.
A recent incident involving an 11-year-old student who suffered nerve damage after being punished by standing in the sun for extended hours has reignited discussions on teacher training and SOPs within Malaysian schools.
Educational experts and human rights advocates are calling for a comprehensive approach that prioritises student safety, cultural sensitivity, and adaptability in the face of evolving challenges.
According to the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) Commissioner Professor Datuk Noor Aziah Mohd Awal, the Education Ministry's (MOE) should take a significant role in ensuring that schools are safe places.
She highlighted the potential for knowledge gaps among teachers and stressed the need for ongoing training and reminders regarding proper student conduct management and appropriate disciplinary measures.
"The teachers may have been aware of it before but may have forgotten. Therefore, they need retraining and courses to remind them of the dos and don'ts concerning students at school.
"If there is a lack of information among teachers, perhaps they have simply forgotten.
"Therefore, there should be new training sessions and campaigns on how schools should manage their disciplinary procedures and how punishments should be administered to students,” she told Sinar Daily when contacted recently.
Parental Involvement and Open Communication Channels
A crucial element of ensuring student safety lies in fostering open communication between schools and parents.
Aziah pointed out the importance of promptly informing parents of any incidents and creating avenues for them to raise concerns.
"This empowers parents to act as advocates for their children's well-being and hold schools accountable for maintaining a safe environment," she said.
She urged the Ministry to remind teachers continually not to expose children to risky activities and to ensure they do not assume that students can handle certain situations without adequate supervision.
She further noted that the Ministry has already issued directives against conducting outdoor programmes or activities during hot seasons, which teachers need to adhere to strictly.
Adapting to a Changing Climate: Discipline Beyond Punishment
Educationalist and former Universiti Malaya Professor Tan Sri Dr. T Marimuthu echoed these sentiments, emphasising the need to revise SOPs, especially considering the impacts of climate change.
"Due to climate change, it is necessary to revise standard operating procedures.
"Punishments should not be punitive but corrective," said Marimuthu.
He also suggested that teachers and the Ministry undergo periodic cultural sensitivity training.
Marimuthu stressed the importance of regular training for teachers, such as one-day seminars, to address disciplinary issues and find effective resolutions.
He recommended that the Education Ministry and state departments organise trainings on critical topics like climate change and its impact on teaching and learning in classrooms.
"Emergency response systems should also be a topic of focus.
"Most importantly, sensitivity training must address the diverse cultures, customs, and values of students, considering how these factors impact teaching in a multicultural and multi-religious society," he said.
He highlighted the significance of sensitivity training for teachers, suggesting that the Ministry should organise local sessions periodically. This approach would help teachers better understand their students and the broader society, ultimately leading to increased productivity in schools.
Several cases in the country have sparked outrage among parents and advocacy groups, with many parents questioning whether legal action should be considered to protect their children’s rights and well-being.
One notable case was an 11-year-old student who was forced by his teacher to stand in the sun for nearly three hour in May.
He was left disabled as a result of the heatstroke he suffered.