Severe Disciplinary Cases in a School in Rawang

News reports over the past few days in the New Straits Times (NST) and The Star newspaper have been focusing on the social ills and disciplinary problems that have been plaguing a school in Rawang, with cases ranging from gangsterism and the usage of drugs to rape and vandalism.

It’s hard to imagine that this is going on in a rampant fashion in a school in Malaysia. Such cases have either been isolated cases or one-off cases before, but seeing the magnitude of the cases implicating this school in Rawang (SMK Seri Garing), there has to be cause for serious concern.

The authorities have to wake up from their slumber and face the hard reality that there may be other schools out there suffering from a similar fate, just that they have not got any media attention. This has to be rectified sooner rather than later so as to curtail the spread of these social ills from contaminating the mind and soul of more students all around the country.

How did this school come under media scrutiny?

This particular school in Rawang came under the media spotlight after a 14 year-old female student was cruelly raped by her male classmates during recess. The story spread from there and when the police came to investigate the case, they also found information linking students to underworld gangs and drug dealers among others.

Who is to be blamed?

Is it the society, the parents or the school authorities? Or is it even the police force and the government that is to be blamed for this problem? I think all of the parties should be held accountable because each and every one of them have their own roles to be played.

In addition to that, these students no doubt get influenced by their friends and even those from the 'underworld' too, so if there is no interference from their parents and the school authorities at the initial stage and proper enforcement of the law by the police, matters can get out of hand.

A police car heading to the school (NST Pics)

Who is affected?

The ones on the receiving end from the actions of this small portion of students are the teachers and their school mates. It would be no surprise that these students might go to the extent of threatening the teachers; while there have been reports that they exhort ‘protection’ money from their school mates. Worse still, seeing such behaviour, other students might get influenced and join the bandwagon.

How can this problem be solved?

The solutions should not apply to this school only – it should apply to any school facing these problems. Even if there are one or two individuals from a school involved in cases such as those mentioned above, that school should be put on a watch-list overseen by the police. Police should then keep a more vigilant eye on the schools that are on the watch-list.

At the same time, the Education Ministry should send teams conducting open talks on all these matters. Perhaps the students just act as they wish because they do not know the implications of their actions. Therefore, it is very improtant to create awareness among the students.

More importantly, the hard-core students who still persist with their ungodly actions despite numerous counselling sessions and other forms of rehabilitation should be sent to juvenile or reform schools as they are a threat to their peers, teachers, and the community at large. Hopefully, they will then change.

What is your opinion on this matter? How can it be curbed so that there is no repeat in the future? Feel free to share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.