Kuala lumpur: The Proposal Paper on the Integration of the Safe School 2.0 Framework is set to be submitted to the Ministry of Education (MOE) in the first quarter of next year. The framework consists of 11 sections, including proposed amendments to the Education Act 1996 and the drafting of new regulations.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Chief researcher Associate Professor Datuk Dr Monna Ong View Siew stated that a key pillar of the proposal is the introduction of a National School Mental Wellbeing Policy. This policy aims to ensure that mental and psychological safety programs are implemented in a structured manner. Findings from a dialogue session revealed that teachers are often the first point of psychological contact for students, who are more comfortable sharing issues with their teachers rather than counselling staff.
Monna emphasized the necessity of psychological first aid (PFA) training for all teachers to help them recognize behavioral changes and trauma in students. Strengthening relationships between students, parents, and schools is also crucial, as many students hesitate to share their issues with parents despite the importance of parental involvement.
The proposal suggests implementing mental health literacy programs for parents via Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) to enhance their understanding of their children’s psychological needs. It also recommends establishing a national coordination mechanism involving schools, MOE, the Ministry of Health, clinical service providers, and other relevant ministries for holistic student support.
During a forum, student representatives from various institutions highlighted that positive student-teacher relationships and fair treatment encourage students to express their issues. They noted their preference to share problems with classmates and teachers over parents to avoid adding to parental burdens.
Students also recommended creating designated stress-release spaces in schools for those not ready to discuss their problems. The Chairman of the TAR UMT Board of Governors, Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy, remarked on the significance of such forums, stressing that policies should incorporate the experiences and voices of students to enhance relevance and effectiveness.
Chan highlighted the TAR UMT research team’s efforts in translating academic research into practical insights, supporting evidence-based policy formulation for long-term educational reform.