KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 20 (Bernama) -- Teachers must be trained to respond immediately and intervene effectively in every bullying complaint to prevent long-lasting effects on victims, said Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek.
She said teacher training must be strengthened to ensure every bullying case is handled comprehensively and appropriate action is taken.
"Teachers must be trained in how to respond, including how to read situations, assess the circumstances of victims and bullies, and carry out ecological interventions to ensure all parties move in step," she said.
She said this at the Anti-Bullying Literacy programme marking the Anti-Bullying Act 2026, held with the Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister's Department at the Teacher Education Institute (IPG), Bahasa Melayu Campus, today.
Also present was Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
Fadhlina said addressing bullying must be carried out in an integrated manner at all levels, from teachers and school administrators to the District Education Office, State Education Department and the Education Ministry.
She said future teachers must be trained in character formation so they can shape students' personalities and help address bullying in schools.
Fadhlina also said the decline in parental support for children's education, as previously reported in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results, required serious attention.
She said a lack of support at home could affect the education ecosystem and students' wellbeing, and parents therefore need to play a more active role in understanding their children's experiences at school.
Meanwhile, Azalina said in her speech that the Anti-Bullying Tribunal received 68 complaints between June 17 and Oct 19, with 51 resolved and 17 cases still pending.
By victim age category, 42 complaints involved individuals aged 13 to 17, followed by 22 complaints involving victims aged seven to 12, while four complaints involved children aged four to six.
She said the rise in reports after the tribunal published its bullying complaint statistics was a positive sign for the government, showing greater public awareness in reporting bullying cases through the tribunal.
The Anti-Bullying Literacy programme was an awareness and legal education initiative aimed at improving IPG students' understanding of bullying, its legal implications, reporting mechanisms and preventive measures.
-- BERNAMA