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Restoring the soul of education

Restoring the soul of education

SCHOOLS are meant to be places for learning, character building and the nurturing of humanity. Yet, the reality today is deeply unsettling. Cases of student stabbings, rape and bullying that injure peers are not just sensational headlines; they are warning signs that our education system is hurting from within. We are no longer merely talking about academic performance or school rankings but also about the very soul of education that has lost its direction. When students become perpetrators of crime, teachers suffer under pressure and parents lose faith in educational institutions. We are witnessing not just a disciplinary crisis but also a crisis of values and humanity. Education in pain Violence in schools is not an isolated issue. Over the past decade, reports of physical bullying, sexual harassment and serious disciplinary violations have become increasingly frequent. Unicef’s (United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund) 2020 report on bullying among children found that Malaysia ranked second in Asia (after India) and sixth globally for cyberbullying, with three out of 10 children affected. According to its U-Report, Unicef revealed that 28% of 7,000 Malaysian children had experienced cyberbullying while an IPSOS 2018 study found that 23% of parents reported their children being bullied. When schools fail to be safe spaces, the effects ripple far beyond the victims, impacting the entire educational ecosystem. Traumatised students struggle to focus, teachers face mental stress and schools suffer reputational damage. In the long run, this erodes the quality of learning and weakens public trust in the national education system. Scars on the nation’s image and economy A crisis of values in education is not merely a moral issue; it is also an economic and reputational one. Malaysia has long prided itself on education as the engine of national development. Yet, when news of student violence circulates internationally, it raises questions about our education system’s ability to nurture a disciplined, ethical and knowledgeable generation. A tarnished education image directly affects foreign investment and global confidence. A country perceived as failing to instil respect, empathy and discipline in its youths risks deterring investors who seek social stability. On a broader scale, this undermines the government’s ambition to build a knowledge-based economy driven by skilled and ethical human capital. At the micro level, school-related crimes have economic costs, medical expenses, lost learning time, social stigma and diminished future opportunities for both victims and perpetrators. Each act of violence in school carries a multiplier effect that extends far beyond the school gates. Role of every layer of society Blaming schools or the government alone is not the solution. The truth is that education is a shared responsibility and a national one. Every tragic incident in schools reflects a collective failure: families that have lost connection, communities that have lost compassion and systems obsessed with numbers but detached from the human spirit. The Education Ministry must remain the primary guardian of our young generation. Student protection policies must go beyond paperwork; they require firm enforcement and continuous monitoring. Concrete measures include installing CCTV cameras in high-risk areas such as corridors, toilets and school fields; conducting routine patrols and spot checks by schools and district officers; and providing anti-bullying and emotional safety training for teachers and support staff. Teachers, too, should be trained to read the emotional and physical cues of students under stress or trauma. In today’s educational world, emotional intelligence is as vital as intellectual intelligence. Investing in teachers’ well-being means investing in students’ safety. The Education Ministry can also establish student protection units in every school, serving as safe reporting channels and rapid response centres for any incidents. Annual school safety audits, including physical and psychosocial, should be made mandatory to assess the overall environment. Schools must be the first line of prevention. A school is not just a place to study; it is also a community that shapes humanity. Teachers must be empowered to act as mentors and not merely as curriculum deliverers. Mentorship programmes, counselling sessions and restorative discipline approaches which focus on rehabilitation and accountability rather than punishment can foster empathy, respect and care among students and staff. Security guards and hostel wardens should also undergo safety awareness training to ensure constant vigilance. Every school should establish a “safe school zone” – a bully-free environment monitored by duty teachers and supported by early-warning systems. Parents and guardians are the first educators at home. Many bullying and delinquency cases stem from a lack of attention, communication and affection. A child who grows up without guidance or boundaries at home will seek them elsewhere and sometimes in the wrong places. Parents must be emotionally present – not just physically – to ask, listen and understand their children daily. A loving home is the first defence against the culture of violence. Society and the media also carry great responsibility. Do not just spread tragedies but rather turn every report into an educational opportunity. Media coverage should build awareness, not fear; inspire action, not pity. Social media, too, should serve as a platform for spreading values, not normalisng cruelty or mockery. On a broader level, corporate organisations and NGOs can play key roles in supporting value-based education and mental well-being through CSR programmes by funding digital literacy campaigns, anti-bullying initiatives and psychosocial support projects in schools. In today’s digital era, digital literacy is no longer optional; it is essential to help children think critically, manage emotions and act responsibly online. Ultimately, this is a collective responsibility. Parents, teachers, leaders and communities hold the key to shaping the nation’s educational direction. Whether schools become safe havens or social battlefields depends on how willing we are to act, listen and guide together. Cultivating caring individuals Education is not merely about examinations; it is the process of shaping human beings. Values like respect, patience and compassion must be instilled from an early age. Moral and religious education must go beyond text books, it must be lived and practised as a school culture. If we aspire to build an ethical, competitive society, our education system must regain its soul. It cannot function as an academic factory alone. Teachers must be given space and support to teach with heart, not merely to finish the syllabus. The wounds in our schools are not isolated; they mirror the condition of our society. Every case of bullying, stabbing or sexual assault among students is a crack in the moral fabric of our nation. If left unhealed, we risk losing not just our students but also our future. Healing these wounds requires courage and sincerity from all parties – government, schools, teachers, parents and society alike. Only when we collectively restore values in education can schools once again become safe spaces where knowledge, ethics and the nation’s dignity are nurtured with love and responsibility. Dr Hafirda Akma Musaddad is a senior lecturer at Universiti Teknologi Mara, Kelantan. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com

Hungary sekat hajat Portugal

Hungary sekat hajat Portugal

LISBON: Impian Portugal untuk layak lebih awal ke Piala Dunia 2026 tertangguh selepas diikat 2-2 oleh Hungary dalam aksi kelayakan Kumpulan F, semalam. Dalam aksi berkenaan, bintang Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo mencipta rekod baharu sebagai penjaring terbanyak sepanjang kempen kelayakan Piala Dunia. Bagaimapun, malam gemilang Ronaldo yang menjaringkan dua gol dalam perlawanan itu direncatkan oleh jaringan ... Read more The post Hungary sekat hajat Portugal appeared first on Utusan Malaysia .

Ferin mahu jadi nadi utama, bukan sekadar pelengkap

Ferin mahu jadi nadi utama, bukan sekadar pelengkap

SKUAD ragbi tujuh sebelah (7s) lelaki negara, Bunga Raya, berikrar untuk tampil lebih garang apabila turun beraksi dalam Siri Kedua Kejuaraan Ragbi 7s Asia 2025 yang bakal berlangsung di Colombo, Sri Lanka, hujung minggu ini.Semangat baharu itu membara selepas skuad bimbingan Nik Safuan Ismade Nik Man menamatkan saingan Siri Pertama di Hangzhou, China dengan berada dalam kelompok enam terbaik, meskipun tewas 17-26 kepada Emiriah Arab Bersatu (UAE) dalam aksi penentuan kedudukan.Bagi kempen di Colombo, barisan negara memperkemas segala persiapan dengan menampilkan gabungan pemain berpengalaman dan muka baharu, antaranya Leoabrenwee Ferin, yang mencuri perhatian ketika melakukan penampilan sulung di Hangzhou sebelum ini.Ferin, yang sebelum ini mewakili Putrajaya dalam Kejohanan 7s Kebangsaan, mengakui cabaran awal bersama skuad kebangsaan bukan mudah, terutama dalam usaha menyesuaikan diri dengan rentak dan intensiti ragbi di peringkat Asia."Cabaran paling besar bagi saya ialah menyesuaikan diri dengan corak permainan tujuh sebelah yang pantas dan menuntut ketahanan tinggi."Saya kini sudah bersedia sepenuhnya dari segi mental dan fizikal untuk memberikan aksi terbaik pada kejohanan minggu ini," kata pemain berusia 21 tahun itu kepada Sukan Sinar.Biarpun masih hijau di pentas antarabangsa, Ferin tidak mahu sekadar menjadi pelengkap pasukan, sebaliknya, bertekad membuktikan dirinya mampu menjadi antara nadi utama pasukan Bunga Raya 7s pada masa depan."Saya amat berbangga diberi peluang menyarung jersi kebangsaan. Ia satu penghormatan besar dan saya mahu jadikan pengalaman ini sebagai batu loncatan untuk terus maju."Saya juga mahu berkongsi segala ilmu serta pengalaman yang saya kutip di peringkat tertinggi dengan rakan-rakan di Malaysia, khususnya pemain muda yang bercita-cita mahu mengharumkan nama negara," ujarnya.

Media sosial hanya untuk 13 tahun ke atas

Media sosial hanya untuk 13 tahun ke atas

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia bakal mewajibkan semua pengenda­li media sosial melaksanakan pe­ngesahan identiti eKYC (electronic Know Your Customer) bagi memastikan pengguna ba­wah umur 13 tahun tidak memiliki akaun di platform berkenaan. Langkah drastik itu diumum­kan susulan kebimbangan terhadap keselamatan dan kese­jahteraan pelajar berikutan be­­be­apa kes jenayah antaranya membabit­kan pelajar perem­puan disyaki dirogol dua rakan sekolah secara ... Read more The post Media sosial hanya untuk 13 tahun ke atas appeared first on Utusan Malaysia .

England pasukan Eropah pertama ke Piala Dunia

England pasukan Eropah pertama ke Piala Dunia

RIGA: Skuad kebangsaan England menepati ramalan untuk mara ke Piala Dunia 2026 selepas mengesahkan slot ke kejohanan terbesar dunia itu dengan menewaskan Latvia 5-0, semalam. Tiada keraguan untuk England mara ke Piala Dunia buat kali kesembilan berturut-turut selepas skuad kendalian Thomas Tuchel mempamerkan aksi cemerlang di peringkat kelayakan. Gol pertama hadir pada minit ke-25 selepas ... Read more The post England pasukan Eropah pertama ke Piala Dunia appeared first on Utusan Malaysia .

Culture of violence spreading among youth online

Culture of violence spreading among youth online

PETALING JAYA : Violence has gone viral and is leaving its mark on Malaysian youth. The glamourisation of aggression across digital platforms has blurred the line between entertainment and real-life brutality. Experts say the recent stabbing at a school in Bandar Utama, Damansara 4 is an extreme but telling symptom of a culture where bullying, dominance and rage are no longer shunned but being liked, shared and celebrated. Universiti Teknologi Mara Social and Policy Studies lecturer Prof Dr Yarina Ahmad said entertainment now glorifies power and gangsterism, leading youths to believe respect comes from belonging to powerful or violent groups. “The influence of Western and international media further complicates this. Youths are increasingly shaped by what they watch, from Korean dramas with violent plots to Western films such as the Fast and Furious film series which glorify speed, aggression and power. “These portrayals often associate masculinity with dominance, thrill-seeking and even sexual desirability, sending a harmful message that strength and status come from reckless or violent behaviour,” she said, adding that constant exposure to online violence has eroded empathy, as seen in the boy’s apparent lack of compassion or awareness of the consequences of his actions. Yarina also noted that research has shown a strong link between media consumption and behavioural imitation among adolescents. She said studies, including one conducted by her student, found that addiction to violent entertainment – whether on television, YouTube or social media – significantly increases aggressive tendencies and the intention to act violently. “This doesn’t always lead to extreme acts like murder, but it manifests in aggression through speech, behaviour and social interactions. “This case shows how technology and media are changing the way people interact today. As technology advances, it is slowly replacing traditional values.” She stressed that heavy reliance on technology is unhealthy because it weakens critical thinking and empathy, as people begin letting algorithms think for them instead of reflecting on their actions. Suka Society (Persatuan Kebajikan Suara Kanak-Kanak Malaysia) executive director Anderson Selvasegaram said all parties – from parents to educators and the wider community – must take collective responsibility to ensure such tragedies in schools never happen again. He said the recent spate of disturbing events in schools should serve as a wake-up call for everyone to reflect on how children are guided, nurtured and protected. “All efforts must be made to prevent a repeat of such incidents in our schools. Over the past few weeks, we have witnessed several deeply troubling events that must never be allowed to happen again,” he said. Anderson stressed that responsibility for prevention begins at home, with parents playing a central role in shaping their children’s emotional and moral development from an early age. “Parents must work hard to stay engaged with their children’s lives and continue to help them manage emotions, challenges and life transitions, even though teenagers often withdraw during this stage of life.” He also called for stronger communication and trust between students, teachers and parents within schools, especially on issues of child safety and protection. “Policies on child protection must not only be adopted but effectively implemented to ensure our schools remain safe and supportive spaces for all children.” Anderson further warned of the growing influence of social media and online gaming on youth behaviour, urging parents to remain vigilant and involved in their children’s digital lives. He said while the extent of social media and gaming influences in this recent incident is not yet clear, parents must be cautious when granting access to devices, online games and social platforms. “The internet contains vast amounts of unregulated and harmful content that can shape young minds in negative ways. “Without consistent, caring guidance and strong moral support, young people risk becoming isolated and vulnerable to negative influences during the critical years of development.”