PUTRAJAYA, Aug 19 (Bernama) — The ‘Sekolahku SEJAHTERA: Sepakat dan Selamat’ initiative has been introduced in an effort to produce a generation of disciplined and high-integrity students, in addition to creating a safe school environment free of drugs and crime.
The initiative, a collaboration between the Ministry of Education (MOE) and Home Ministry (KDN), was launched by Senior Minister of Education Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin and Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin here on Aug 18.
Among the main focuses of the initiative is to address disciplinary problems and misbehaviour and identify students who are using prohibited substances or drugs.
Radzi, in a press conference after the launch of the initiative, said the MOE’s collaboration with KDN, particularly the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) will be enhanced to create a safe school environment.
“We want to further enhance the collaboration to ensure that schools can be made a safe place for our children.
“What is important in ensuring that the school becomes a safe place is that everyone is united, not just the MOE and KDN, but the whole community at various levels working together to create a safe school environment,” he said.
Through the ‘Sekolahku SEJAHTERA: Sepakat dan Selamat’ initiative, PDRM through the school liaison officers (PPS) and senior officers will go to all schools more often to implement prevention programmes.
Meanwhile, AADK will carry out urine tests in every school to identify students who may be involved in drug abuse and hold prevention programmes on the dangers of drug abuse.
Director-general of AADK Sutekno Ahmad Belon, when met by reporters, said he would hold discussions with MOE to identify new approaches that could be introduced to curb drug abuse in schools.
“For now, we will focus on giving students awareness about the dangers of drugs and what their effects are. In general, 65 to 75 per cent of youths are involved in synthetic drugs such as syabu,” said Sutekno, who fully supports the implementation of the initiative.
For the principal of Sekolah Seni Malaysia Kuala Lumpur, Suriyani Ab Ghani, the introduction of the initiative is timely when the country is trying to produce a generation of disciplined and competitive students.
“It is a good programme and the collaboration between the Ministry of Education and Home Ministry, especially through PDRM, should be heightened to deal with disciplinary problems in schools,” she said.
Head of students of SMK Putrajaya Precinct 14(1) Nur Hazimah Habib Hafiz said the frequent presence of PPS in schools could discourage disciplinary problems, misbehaviour and criminal incidents.
Sources: BERNAMA