SCHOOL is supposed to be a place where students feel safe, protected and comfortable enough to learn. However, recent cases in Malaysia and other parts of the world show that students can still face serious injustice even in places that are supposed to protect them.
In Malaysia, the recent case involving 16-year-old Irene Sofiya has raised serious concerns about student safety. Irene was found unconscious and covered in blood at a school hall in Yong Peng, Johor and was later pronounced dead after suffering multiple injuries.
The incident has shocked many Malaysians and raised questions about the safety measures in schools. Although the school had CCTV cameras, the area where Irene was found was reportedly not covered, which has led to further questions about whether schools are doing enough to protect their students.
Following the incident, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek ordered an audit of the school’s security measures, including CCTV coverage, entrance controls, patrols and security procedures.
While investigations are still ongoing, the case has reminded the public that having security measures in place means little if they do not properly cover the areas where students are at risk.
However, school injustice is not something that only happens in Malaysia. A similar concern can be seen in the United States through the case involving the “Cornell 7”, which has raised questions about how universities respond to serious allegations involving their students.
The Cornell 7 refers to seven former Cornell University students who have been accused of sexually assaulting a fellow student at a fraternity house. The woman involved has filed a civil lawsuit, and the case has received renewed attention over questions surrounding
Cornell’s handling of the allegations.
Cornell conducted its own investigation into the incident and disciplinary action was taken against some of the students involved. However, the case has continued to attract attention because of concerns about how the university responded to the allegations and whether enough was done to protect the student involved.
Although the Irene case and the Cornell case are very different, they show a similar problem.
Students can be vulnerable when the institutions responsible for their safety fail to respond properly, whether the issue involves physical safety, violence, harassment or other forms of harm.
This also shows why school injustice should not be treated as a problem that belongs to only one country. Different education systems may have different rules, but students everywhere depend on their schools and universities to take their safety seriously.
Behind every case is a student with a family, friends, dreams and a future that should have continued. Irene should have been able to go home, and every student who speaks up about being harmed should be able to trust that someone will listen and protect them.
Schools and universities should not only focus on academic results and achievements. They also have a responsibility to make sure students can study in an environment where they feel safe and where serious complaints are taken seriously.
The cases of Irene Sofiya and the Cornell 7 should encourage schools and universities to look more closely at their own systems. More importantly, students should know that their safety and voices matter, regardless of where they study.
“A school should be a place where students find their future, not a place where they lose it.”
At the end of the day, education is supposed to give young people a safe place to grow and learn. When that safety is taken away, institutions need to take responsibility and make sure similar situations do not happen again.
Daninas Hezry is a student at City University Malaysia. The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of Sinar Daily.