Kuala lumpur: The Ministry of Education (MOE) has been urged to consider reinstating caning in schools nationwide as a disciplinary measure for students.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, during the debate on the Supply Bill (Budget) 2026 at the policy stage, Lim Guan Eng (PH-Bagan) proposed the reimplementation of caning with proper procedures and guidelines. He emphasized that this should apply not only to schools under MOE but also to private institutions. Lim remarked on the effectiveness of caning in previous times, suggesting that such measures prevented the issues schools face today. He also recommended that teachers assigned to administer caning should undergo psychological assessments to ensure the safety of students.
The former Finance Minister further suggested that funds be allocated for the installation of closed-circuit television cameras (CCTV) in schools to enhance safety measures.
Meanwhile, Rodziah Ismail (PH-Ampang) highlighted the need for educational reform to reduce administrative burdens on teachers, allowing them to focus on their primary role as educators. She proposed the establishment of a Teacher Workload and School Safety Task Force by the MOE. This task force would address current issues, including the creation of a unified national digital education system to streamline reporting processes and eliminate redundancies among the MOE, State Education Departments, and District Education Offices.
Rodziah pointed out that teachers today face numerous responsibilities beyond teaching, such as completing digital reports, managing student welfare, handling audits, engaging with the school community, and participating in various programmes and workshops. She noted that these additional duties have reduced the time available for teaching and understanding students, leading to increased stress among educators.
The Dewan Rakyat will reconvene next Wednesday following the Deepavali celebration on Monday. Before adjourning the session, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul extended Deepavali greetings to Members of Parliament, parliamentary staff, and all Malaysians celebrating the festival.