Kota Kinabalu: Several concerned members of the public have proposed new school regulations requiring students to inform their class monitors, school prefects or teachers when moving around campus in groups of more than three, as a preventive measure against potential bullying incidents.
The suggestion comes in the wake of the death of Form One student Zara Qairina, who died after allegedly falling from the third floor of a dormitory building at SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha Limauan in Papar in the early hours of July 17.
The civilian proposal includes two key safety measures, namely, requiring students to inform class monitors, school prefects or teachers when gathering in groups of more than three and mandating that female security guards be stationed at girls’ dormitories while male security guards are assigned to boys’ dormitories.
The proposed regulation is based on the premise that when more than three students gather together, there exists a possibility of bullying dynamics emerging, where two or more students might target a single individual within the group.
“When you have more than three students together, there is always the risk that two might gang up against one,” said a concerned member of the public.
“We need to be proactive in preventing these situations before they escalate into something tragic,” he said.
The proposal suggests that class monitors, school prefects, and teachers would serve as early warning systems.
“The idea is to create an additional layer of oversight and accountability,” said another member of the public.
“By requiring students to inform their class monitors, prefects, or teachers about larger group movements, we can potentially identify and prevent situations where bullying might occur,” she said.
Addressing dormitory security concerns specifically, another concerned member of the public pointed out the importance of gender-appropriate supervision.
“Having female security guards at girls’ dormitories and male guards at boys’ dormitories would ensure proper monitoring while respecting students’ privacy and cultural sensitivities,” he said.
The suggestion reflects growing concerns about student safety and the need for enhanced monitoring systems within school environments, particularly in boarding facilities where supervision can be more challenging during off-hours.
