Schools Required to Comply with Safety SOPs

PUTRAJAYA: All 10,259 schools under the Ministry of Education (MOE) are required to ensure that safety management is implemented in accordance with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) and the Safe School Management Guidelines currently in force.

Effective July 1, the guidelines also detail disciplinary action that can be taken against students who commit misconduct, including bullying, with penalties of up to suspension or expulsion from school.

The improvements are an expansion of the Safe School Programme introduced in 2002, with the scope of safety management now covering physical safety, the school environment, psychosocial well-being, emergency preparedness, incident management, as well as cyber and digital safety.

Ministry of Education Daily School Management Division director Mohd Hanafi Samad said the 386-page guidelines emphasise a comprehensive approach encompassing physical safety, environmental safety, psychosocial well-being, emergency preparedness, incident management and collaboration among schools, parents and the community.

He said the approach is based on the principles of prevention, preparedness, response and recovery in addressing any safety risks or threats.

He stressed that safety management is a shared responsibility involving the entire school community as well as the wider community, requiring proactive leadership, integrated cooperation and a strong culture of safety awareness.

“With these guidelines in place, every school is expected to manage safety systematically and in line with MOE policies and directives, including compliance with SOPs, guidelines and current best practices,” he told Utusan Malaysia.

The Safe School Management Guidelines cover seven key areas: Student Activity Safety Management; Physical, Infrastructure and Special Room Safety; Hostel Safety Management; Disciplinary Misconduct Management; Psychosocial Well-being; Cyber and Digital Safety; and Emergency Response Planning.

Specifically, the guidelines provide practical guidance for school administrators, teachers, members of the implementation support staff (AKP), students, Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) and the community in establishing systematic safety management mechanisms.

The initiative requires the involvement of various stakeholders, including government agencies, local authorities (PBT), non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and surrounding communities to ensure that schools maintain a high level of preparedness at all times.

According to Mohd Hanafi, safe school management must be fully coordinated through the 3K Management Committee — covering cleanliness, health and safety — comprising school administrators, with particular emphasis on safety.

He said risk assessments must be reviewed at least once a year or whenever there are changes to school activities, equipment or the school environment.

Reviews must also be carried out following emergencies, accidents, health-related incidents or safety complaints.

At the same time, he said basic safety requirements in schools must be regularly maintained and comply with safety standards set by the MOE, the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia (JBPM) and local authorities.

He explained that these basic safety requirements include facilities, equipment and support systems provided to ensure the safety, well-being and preparedness of the school community in dealing with emergencies.

“The MOE Safe School Management Guidelines were published as the primary reference for all school leaders, educators, local communities and relevant agencies,” he said.

UTUSAN