The Ministry of Education (MOE) has assured that the installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in schools will not cover areas involving students’ privacy, such as dormitories, toilets, or changing rooms.
Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh said the move aims to protect the dignity of students while maintaining a balance between ensuring safety and safeguarding privacy.
He said supervision in those private areas will instead be strengthened through scheduled patrols by wardens as a preventive measure to curb incidents such as bullying.
“In determining where the CCTV cameras are installed, the MOE prioritises a balance between student safety and privacy, based on the advice of the Office of the Chief Government Security Officer (CGSO).
“Therefore, CCTV cameras will only be placed in strategic and high-risk public areas such as main dormitory corridors, entrances and exits, stairways, dining halls, ironing rooms, and isolated areas around dormitory blocks,” he said when responding to a question from Datuk Seri Dr Shahidan Kassim (PN–Arau) in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Wong said that as of now, 149 out of 200 selected boarding schools have completed CCTV installation, achieving a 75 per cent completion rate.
The installation project began on Oct 13 as part of the ministry’s proactive initiative to address the issue of school bullying, which has raised public concern in recent months.
He added that the MOE has allocated RM3 million for the purchase and installation of CCTV systems in the selected schools. The procurement process was carried out transparently through the ePerolehan system, in line with Treasury Circular PK2.1 (General Matters), which outlines the current procurement procedures and value limits.
“The procurement process was managed either by the State Education Departments (JPN), District Education Offices (PPD), or individual schools, depending on their respective situations,” he said.
The initiative is expected to enhance safety monitoring at boarding schools and provide greater assurance to parents regarding the well-being of their children while under school supervision.
-EDUCATION TVET ASIA