The National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) has emphasized the importance of equipping teachers with practical skills to manage crisis situations in schools, highlighting that proper training can play a crucial role in preventing conflicts from escalating. NUTP secretary-general Fouzi Singon stressed that teachers should receive scenario-based instruction to identify early warning signs, communicate effectively, control their own emotions, and manage agitated students while knowing when to disengage.

According to Fouzi, teachers must also be able to distinguish between typical disciplinary issues and behaviors that may indicate underlying mental health crises, trauma, risks of self-harm, or potential violence. He cautioned, however, that teachers should not be expected to serve as mental health diagnosticians. Instead, their role should focus on early identification of concerns, ensuring safety, and activating appropriate referral processes.

Fouzi’s remarks follow earlier concerns raised by NUTP president Aminuddin Awang in July regarding the limited specialist training available to teachers in assessing emotional distress, aggression, attendance problems, or abrupt behavioral changes in students. These issues garnered heightened attention after a stabbing incident at a secondary school in Banting, Selangor, on July 6, where a 15-year-old Form Three student was allegedly attacked by a peer.

The NUTP official acknowledged that teachers are primarily trained as educators rather than mental health experts, crisis negotiators, or security personnel. He emphasized that it is inappropriate to place teachers in situations where they might feel compelled to physically confront aggressive students in the absence of immediate specialist support.

While recognizing the significance of the Education Ministry’s Safe School Management Guidelines, which advocate coordinated actions and school safety measures, Fouzi pointed out that the real challenge lies in effective implementation. He noted that guidelines alone cannot equip teachers with the necessary skills to respond promptly and appropriately during crisis moments.

To address this gap, the NUTP has called for the Safe School framework to be reinforced by mandatory, periodic, and practical training tailored to preparing teachers for real-life scenarios. Moreover, the union advocates for a multi-layered support system within schools, to ensure that classroom teachers are not left to handle complex behavioral issues independently.