The education ministry’s focus under the upcoming 2026 federal budget will include establishing an anti-bullying framework at all educational institutions under its purview, says minister Fadhlina Sidek.
Without elaborating on the framework, Fadhlina said this followed a series of dialogues and consultations with various stakeholders in the field of education, Bernama reported.
The minister said she would also look to drive digital education as well as technical and vocational education and training under the budget, while hoping to empower preschools and boost the potential of students with special educational needs.
“In the context of education, this budget is very important because it is closely related to the implementation of several important agendas such as the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2026-2035 and the New School Curriculum 2027,” she said.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the finance minister, is scheduled to table the 2026 budget in the Dewan Rakyat on Oct 10.
There has been a spate of widely publicised cases of bullying in schools, the most prominent involving Form 1 student Zara Qairina Mahathir who died after allegedly falling from the third floor of her school’s hostel in Papar, Sabah, last month.
Home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the probe into Zara’s death had uncovered clear elements of bullying, neglect, and sexual harassment.
The education ministry subsequently announced that it would review its SOPs on school safety and the handling of disciplinary issues, including bullying, while its Aduan Buli portal would allow the filing of anonymous reports.
