The government has installed CCTV cameras in 149 out of 200 schools identified under it’s RM8 million anti-bullying initiative, Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh told the Dewan Rakyat today.
Wong said the installation work which began in October, is part of Datuk Anwar Ibrahim administration’s broader effort to curb bullying and violence in schools following several high-profile incidents that raised concerns about student safety.
“We started the procurement immediately and installation work in phases began on October 13, which reflects our commitment to ensure safety in schools is a top priority. Up to now, cameras have been installed in 149 out of 200 schools, making the completion rate at 75 per cent.”
The project focuses on installing cameras at strategic public spaces across school compounds, particularly in areas where bullying cases have been reported in the past. These include main hostel pathways, entrances and exits, staircases, corridors, dining halls, prep rooms, ironing rooms, and other isolated or quiet areas, Wong said.
He also stressed that the ministry is prioritising a balance between student privacy and safety, following guidelines from the Chief Government Security Office (CGSO).
“As for placement of the CCTV cameras, we ARE prioritising balancing privacy and safety based on CGSO recommendations. Hence, the cameras were installed at strategic public spaces such as main hostel pathways including entrance ways and exits, staircases and corridors, dining halls, prep rooms, ironing rooms and all locations that are isolated and quiet”.
The installation of CCTV cameras was first announced in response to a spike in school bullying cases across the country. According to Education Ministry data, bullying incidents in schools have more than doubled over the past decade.
Former education director-general Azman Adnan revealed that there were 3883 reported cases of bullying in 2022, rising to 6528 cases in 2023. Between January and October 2024, there were already 6208 cases recorded, underscoring the urgency of the ministry’s intervention.
The government has pledged to expand the programme beyond the initial 200 schools once the pilot phase is completed with plans to integrate real-time monitoring and reporting system in the future.
Sources: MalayMail
