Education Ministry refines the student protection policy, says the aku janji letter is not the measure of teacher commitment

The Education Ministry (KPM) is refining the School Student Protection Policy, including the commitment document teachers are asked to sign, so that it can be carried out in practice without weakening its aim of protecting pupils. Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said so in a written reply in Parliament on 22 October, according to Free Malaysia Today (FMT). For teachers who have not signed, the ministry says it will explain first.

What Fadhlina replied

She was answering Ahmad Johnie Zawawi (GPS-Igan), who asked for the latest status of signing the Student Protection Policy Compliance Pledge (Surat Aku Janji Kepatuhan) and what KPM is doing about teachers who refuse or have not signed.

"KPM is reviewing and refining how the School Student Protection Policy is implemented, including the related commitment document, taking into account feedback from those who carry out the policy and stakeholders," she said, as reported by FMT.

Other points she made:

• Whether a teacher has signed the aku janji letter is not, on its own, a measure of their commitment to protecting pupils.
• For teachers who have not signed or refuse to, KPM first explains the purpose, scope and implementation of the policy.
• Concerns raised by teachers will be looked at and handled through the proper administrative channels.

Why teachers are worried

The policy was announced in a Professional Circular dated 1 July. According to the New Straits Times (NST), it requires staff and outside parties who deal officially with schools to sign a compliance pledge as proof of their commitment to pupil safety.

On 13 August, Fadhlina asked educators to stay calm and give KPM room to explain the policy. In a Facebook post she said she had told the Director-General of Education and the ministry's Legal Adviser to hold a special session with stakeholders. NST reported that the National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) said the same day that it wanted the requirement withdrawn and replaced with more professional measures. Its secretary-general, Fouzi Singon, said the document could expose teachers to civil suits in future.

On 19 August, Director-General of Education Mohd Azam Ahmad told RTM that the policy is not a legal instrument for binding anyone or imposing disciplinary action. He said no clause makes failure to sign an offence, and that a suggestion to replace the word "mewajibkan" (to make compulsory) with a softer term "has its rationale".

NUTP's position

FMT reports that NUTP had earlier urged KPM to replace the requirement to sign the aku janji document with a joint commitment pledge. Fouzi said binding teachers through a written document could raise legal issues later, and that existing rules are enough because teachers and parents already know their duties.

What this means for teachers and parents

The 22 October reply does not say whether the document will be amended, replaced or withdrawn, and gives no date. What it does make clear is that KPM is not acting against teachers who have not signed, and that it names explanation as the first step. Teachers with doubts can raise them through their school administrators or union representatives. Parents do not need to wait for a revised document to ask their child's school how it protects pupils.

School safety has been in the news this week after the Kuching incident. See MCMC urges Malaysians to delete Kuching school attack video. The reports we relied on do not link the two matters.

What to watch next is whether KPM publishes an amended version of the document, and whether NUTP accepts the outcome of the talks.

Sources

• Free Malaysia Today, KPM tambah baik Polisi Perlindungan Murid Sekolah, 22 October 2026
• New Straits Times, Fadhlina urges calm over pupil protection policy concerns, 13 August 2026
• RTM News Portal, KPM teliti dasar perlindungan murid, buka ruang pindaan - KP Pendidikan, 19 August 2026