Ain Husniza urges education reform to encourage students to speak out on sexual harassment

SHAH ALAM - Social activist Ain Husniza Saiful Nizam has stressed the urgent need for policies within the education system that empower students to speak up about sexual harassment, saying such measures could also help resolve other deep-rooted social issues.

"There are no sex education courses or modules in schools that truly prepare children to face real-life expectations, and there are unsustainable ways of teaching them about this," she said.

State police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat revealed that girls as young as 11 were initiating such relationships, raising serious questions about the effectiveness of current educational efforts on consent, boundaries, and sexual awareness.

The situation has prompted debate about whether children involved fully understand the consequences of their actions due to their young age.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Family, Women and Children's Law Professor Datuk Noor Aziah Mohd Awal said that children aged 10 to 12 must be proven to understand their actions before they can be held criminally responsible.

Speaking to Sinar Daily recently, Ain called for the urgent reformation of Malaysia’s education framework, particularly in relation to sex education and school-based policies on harassment.

She emphasised that current laws, including the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act, do not adequately address the reality of what young students face.

“Children, especially girls in schools, are not properly protected under current legislation. There are loopholes, and often, teachers and administrators overlook or mishandle these cases,” she said.

Ain’s advocacy gained national attention after she exposed a teacher’s inappropriate joke about rape during a lesson, triggering widespread debate about how schools handle issues related to sexual misconduct.

She has since continued to speak out about other problematic practices, such as invasive period checks on female students and the misuse of merit systems to suppress victims who report abuse.

"Some schools deduct students' merit points when they report harassment. This becomes a form of financial conditioning that worsens the silencing of victims already bound by societal pressures," she explained.

In response to these issues, Ain is actively working on the Comprehensive Sex Education Programme, aiming to fill the current gaps in the curriculum. She believes that with stronger policies and updated teaching modules, schools can play a pivotal role in protecting children and shaping a more informed and confident generation.

"The current syllabus is outdated and too heavy—mentally and physically—for younger children. Instead of equipping them with life skills, it burdens them without teaching real-world relevance, like understanding consent or boundaries," she added, urging the government to take swift action to overhaul the system.

Yesterday, Yusoff also revealed 252 cases were reported in 2024 compared to 206 cases in 2023, an increase of 22.3 per cent, and what is more worrying is that some of those involved were as young as 10 years old.

Among the factors contributing to this situation are family conflicts, parental neglect, underage love affairs and easy accessibility of pornographic materials on mobile phones.