NGO urges whole-school safeguarding approach after school stabbing in Banting

KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 — The Education Ministry has been urged to strengthen and implement the Safe School Policy more comprehensively across all educational institutions following the recent stabbing incident at a school in Banting, Selangor.

Buku Jalanan Chow Kit (BJCK), a non-governmental organisation dedicated to providing equal educational opportunities for children, said adopting a whole-school safeguarding approach would make child protection a shared responsibility of the entire school community, rather than resting solely with discipline teachers or counsellors.

“To strengthen the child protection ecosystem in schools, BJCK proposes that every school have a comprehensive Child Protection Policy that is consistently implemented, with clear procedures for prevention, reporting, risk management, and intervention,” it said in a statement yesterday.

BJCK said other measures should include appointing a designated officer or team responsible for protection and safety in every school to serve as a focal point for coordinating child protection issues, managing complaints and overseeing follow-up action.

It also said school management should strengthen regular training for administrators, teachers, and support staff on child protection, early detection of risk factors, trauma-informed practice, and conflict management.

The organisation also called for schools to strengthen complaint mechanisms to ensure they are child-friendly, safe, confidential and accessible, enabling students to seek help without fear or stigma.

“At the same time, schools should conduct regular risk assessments and audits on the implementation of the Safe School Policy, with emphasis not only on physical safety but also on psychosocial wellbeing, school culture, and the effectiveness of protection systems,” it added.

As a country committed to the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC),  BJCK said Malaysia has a responsibility to ensure every child is protected from all forms of violence, neglect, and exploitation.

It said the right of every child to live, develop and grow in a safe environment is not merely an aspiration but a fundamental right.

“BJCK believes that tragedies such as this must become a turning point for more comprehensive systemic reform. What is needed is not temporary policy or seasonal reaction, but a continuous commitment to building a culture of protection and safeguarding in every educational institution,” the statement read. — Bernama