If you're worried about school bullying, well, don't be, as the Education Ministry believes the situation is under control.
There's only one tiny problem...
Education Minister Dr Mohd Radzi Md Jidin said that school bullying cases have dropped significantly this year compared to last year.
In a written reply to Tebrau District MP Steven Choong Shiau Yoon, who raised the issue of an increase in school bullying cases since 2016, Dr Mohd Radzi said that the ministry recorded fewer cases in 2020.
Based on the data provided by the Sistem Sahsiah Diri Murid (SSDM) system, only 0.04 per cent of bullying cases were recorded between January and September this year, compared to 0.12 per cent during the same period last year.
The percentage of bullying cases were 0.07 per cent in 2016, 0.06 per cent in 2017 and 0.09 per cent in 2018.
Education Ministry says bullying in schools dropped this year compared to last. Only 0.04% cases were recorded between Jan and Sept this year compared to 0.12% for the same period last year. The percentage of bullying cases 2016-2018 were 0.07%, 0.06% and 0.09% respectively. pic.twitter.com/Es1fEk701D
— emmanuelsamarathisa (@esshimself) November 11, 2020
While the drop in percentage is encouraging, there's just a minor flaw with the statement: schools have not been opened a lot this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Schools nationwide were forced to shut down in March due to the movement control order (MCO), and the subsequent control orders after that meant that schools could not remain open for a long period of time.
Hence, it would make sense that school bullying cases would take a dip this year as no schools were open almost the entire 2020.
Of course, netizens were quick to point out that fact as well:
— Din Djarrin (@nx51rvdd1nxyvp) November 11, 2020
Sekolah tutup. Pastu nak buli sapa? Guru besar? Makcik kantin? Abg jaga? Pakcik cleaner?
— park one????♥️ (@adatu76) November 11, 2020
I think data for this year dropped because the school is closed ? you can't compare as the variables are mostly changed. Its like you're comparing the numbers of employees coming late to work 2019 vs 2020. Most of employees are wfh this year, and it's Flexi working time. ?
— schön_grace (@SchonGrace) November 13, 2020
Kalau dilaporkan meningkat lagi baru terkejut
— Raj Munni @ Aiman Athirah Sabu (@al_jundiathirah) November 11, 2020
'There is no case if there is no test'
— fail in adulting (@lareinalenea) November 11, 2020
'There is no school bullying if there is no school' pic.twitter.com/Uqa2bkfd1I
Baik gi kira peratus menteri menteri kena bully dengan netizan dkt social media lol
— oompaloompa (@gimmethatball) November 12, 2020
Here's a tip for the Education Ministry to make it 0.00 in 2021. Close the schools from Jan to Dec. Brilliant idea right? I know ?
— Jeffrey Ryan (@Jeff_Carlito) November 12, 2020
But hey, as long as the numbers did not increase this year, the Education Ministry should log that as a small win, right?