Hundreds of Malaysian school students have screened positive for drugs in a wake-up call for the nation’s principals
Malaysia’s Deputy Education Minister, Datuk Chong Sin Woon, said 411 secondary school students tested positive for drugs in the first two months of the year alone.
According to Chong, 403 cases were detected through urine tests conducted by the National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) while eight cases involved arrests by the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM).
Speaking in parliament, Malaysian MP, Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim, asked Chong how the government intended to address the problem of students abusing drugs on school grounds.
“Most of the drug cases took place outside of the school…but once we have identified the high-risk groups, we will carry out urine screening with AADK in the schools,” the Dewan Rakyat quoted Chong as having responded to Abdul Azeez.
“If a student is found positive, we will conduct a rehabilitation program for three months with AADK and we will carry out follow-up later. If the student is found positive again, we will enforce discipline by consensus via a committee at District Education Office level.”
Chong added that cooperation of all parties was necessary in the eradication of drug usage among school students, and that the decision to expel a student was the final alternative taken by the school against students with disciplinary problems.
This development follows a report from last year by Malaysia’s Education Ministry which identified 402 schools as ‘hotspots’ for disciplinary and drugs problems.
Malaysia’s National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) said schools that are located in the hotspots should handle these problems “holistically”, with experienced staff being placed in affected schools.
“By placing principals with strong credentials and experience, these schools can be managed better,” NUTP secretary-general, Harry Tan, told the New Straits Times, adding that the standard operating procedures (SOPs) in dealing with disciplinary cases should also be reviewed.
“Teachers, particularly those who look after their students’ affairs, should be given training to handle disciplinary cases.”
Earlier this month, Malaysia’s Education Ministry said it was considering a bold move to station police officers in the country’s schools to improve student safety.
However, Minister Mahdzir Khalid said the move would only apply to schools located in “hot spots”.
“The police cannot be in all the schools as we have 10,200 nationwide and it would be asking the police too much,” Mahdzir told reporters in Parliament.
“What we can ask for is help from the district police stations to place an auxiliary policeman at schools located in hot spots.”