KUALA LUMPUR: Students and parents will soon be able to lodge reports involving bullying cases directly to the Education Ministry following the formation of a direct reporting system, says Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin.

       The Education Minister told the Dewan Rakyat that the ministry would continue to improve on the reporting system related to bullying cases to ensure the best approach.

       “We are developing a reporting system that will allow school members, including students and their parents, to make complaints directly to the ministry.

       “The information received will be protected,” he said in reply to a question from Che Alias Hamid during Minister’s Question Time.

       The Kemaman MP had asked about the efforts taken by the ministry to address the issue of bullying among students especially in boarding schools as highlighted recently.

       Radzi also said stern action would be taken against schools under the purview of the ministry that attempted to cover up bullying.

       “We are committed to take immediate and stern action against the school management that tries to hide incidents of bullying.

       “The system will enable schools to make official reports,” he said.

       Radzi said the ministry had also provided guidelines on how to prevent and address student bullying to serve as a guide for schools.

       Regarding the punishments at the school level, he said the ministry had produced a circular outlining the type of punishments for students who commit acts of bullying.“We are reviewing the punishments for students who commit such acts. This is to ensure equal punishments and the approach can serve as a deterrent,” he said.

       The minister said these measures were part of a four-tier anti-bullying framework the ministry is currently working on.

       Radzi also said the ministry was also in talks with heads of schools and the police.

       Meanwhile, Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) director-general Datuk Azhar Abdul Manaf said the college disciplinary committee made the decision to expel 10 students from Sultan Azlan Shah Mara Junior Science College (MRSM) in Kuala Kangsar.

       “A meeting was held to study the case and we decided to expel the students involved today (yesterday). “The punishment shows we do not compromise on bullying in any Mara educational institution, IPMA or Mara sponsorship,” he said in a statement.