Prioritising the Safety of Our Schoolchildren

 

The safety of schoolchildren must be our highest priority. When a child’s wellbeing is at risk, decisive action must be taken—especially against contractors whose negligence endangers lives.

I fully support the call by the Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs), urging the Ministry of Education to take school safety seriously and act swiftly.

This issue reminds me of an incident at my children’s primary school in  Petaling Jaya several years ago. Contractors failed to comply with safety, health, and environmental guidelines. 

As a result, fumes—believed to be from welding work—spread into classrooms, causing several pupils to vomit. The Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) responded promptly with a stop-work order.

Tragically, in this case, a Year Three pupil died after falling into the manhole. According to a source from Indah Water Konsortium (IWK), who requested anonymity, the contractor had violated safety protocols.

The fibreglass cover used was deemed illegal, and the sewerage system was privately managed. Both the school and the contractor must be held accountable.

As a concerned parent, I urge the Ministry of Education and Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) across the country to conduct immediate and thorough safety audits in all schools. If a child did indeed fall into a manhole, we must ensure such a tragedy never happens again.

We cannot—and must not—compromise on the safety of our young people.