Regional efforts intensify to prevent school bullying

Efforts to combat school bullying are being emphasized through the promotion of respect, compassion, and safe school environments in Malaysia and Indonesia.

In Malaysia, Datuk Muhamad Khizri Abu Kassim of Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) stated that fostering a culture of mutual respect and compassion from primary school is essential to preventing bullying. He noted that teaching children to respect parents, teachers, and community leaders helps prevent misconduct and builds character that lasts into adulthood. He also emphasized the importance of teaching students to respect individual differences in appearance, background, and ability.

In Indonesia, the Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection (KPPPA) is pushing for the implementation of a ‘Safe and Comfortable School Culture’ following a bullying incident in Central Java that resulted in a fatality. Ciput Eka Purwianti, Assistant Deputy at KPPPA, highlighted that this initiative involves strengthening educator capacity, applying positive discipline, and ensuring child-friendly learning environments. The approach requires collaboration between schools and families to create responsive mechanisms for preventing and handling violence against children.