Over 90 pct of bullying, sexual harassment cases resolved within 15 days - MOE

PUTRAJAYA: The Ministry of Education (MOE) said today that more than 90 per cent of bullying and sexual harassment cases have been resolved within 15 days.

It said all state education departments, district education offices and educational institutions have been directed to adhere to the urgency of relaying information, reporting and taking action on such cases to the ministry based on the set standard operating procedure of 1:3:7 day ratio.

"MOE remains proactive in handling bullying and sexual harassment cases in all educational institutions under its jurisdiction to ensure a safe ecosystem for teachers, students and staff," it said in a statement.

The ministry said it was finalising the guidelines on dealing with bullying and sexual harassment and the new Student Discipline Regulation, which would be issued soon to replace the Education Ordinance 1957, Education (School Discipline) Regulations 1959.

It further said that various initiatives were being implemented to ensure the enforcement of existing rules outlined in the ministry's bulletins, circulars and related guidelines.

Among them are awareness campaigns in the media on the negative impact of bullying and sexual harassment, educational programmes on the dangers of bullying and sexual harassment to be integrated into the curriculum, co-curriculum and character building, as well as the caring school programme.

Also implemented is the intervention for victims of such cases and strategic cooperation with all quarters, especially enforcement agencies, to ensure the issue can be handled more effectively, it said.

MOE said there are three channels for the public, schools and parents to report any information related to bullying and sexual harassment, namely the special Bullying Complaint line at 03-88849352, e-mail adubuli@moe.gov.my and the Public Complaints Management System (SiSPAA).

Information on bullying and sexual harassment complaints can also be accessed through the MOE Bullying Complaint Portal at https://www.moe.gov.my/aduanbuli.

-- BERNAMA