KUALA KANGSAR: The Education Ministry will strengthen guidelines for the management of sexual misconduct in schools to prevent the rise in crimes of rape involving minors.

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the ministry took seriously the statement by federal police Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain yesterday, who said the number of rape cases had risen in general, but the number of rape cases involving minors had also increased annually.

She said the ministry will also intensify advocacy training for teachers on the  procedure for handling cases of sexual misconduct at school level.

"For example, at the sports teacher level, we will introduce a safe sports code to ensure that students can conduct their activities safely from any sexual harassment.

"At school, we want to re-emphasise that anti-sexual harassment management (includes) the complaint process as well as actions that must be taken immediately as soon as teachers come to know about the behaviors involved.

"We want the children to believe that they have a safe place to make complaints and be protected," she told reporters after officiating a seminar on Datuk Dr Siddiq Fadzil at Universiti Sultan Azlan Shah here today.

Also present were state Education, Higher Education, Youth and Sports Committee chairman Khairudin Abu Hanipah; USAS vice chancellor Datuk Dr Wan Sabri Wan Yusof and Perak Mufti Datuk Seri Wan Zahidi Wan Teh.

Commenting further, Fadhlina said the ministry was taking preventive measures by collaborating with the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry and the Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister's Department on advocacy programmes for sexual harassment.

"The ministry recently organised the Convention on the Protection of Students from Sexual Exploitation.

"What is important right now is the commitment from the parents to ensure the family is safe first.

"I have already mentioned that if it (cases of sexual harassment) happens in the school, we will not compromise. You touch, you go is the approach and affirmation we have given before," she said.

Previously, Fadhlina had warned teachers and school staff against sexual harassment, saying those who do so will be sacked.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/05/1047390/education-ministry-strengthens guidelines-management-sexual-misconduct