In recent months, Malaysia has been shaken by a wave of violent incidents involving students.
Some of the most disturbing cases include:
- A student stabbed multiple times on school grounds. (source: Astro Awani)
- Police: Baling Student Rape Case Now Classified as Statutory Rape (source: FMT)
- Melaka School Rape Case: Four Students Under Probe for Alleged Assault on Teen Girl (source: The Straits Time)
And of course, the tragic death of Zara Qairina, which is still under investigation, her cause of death remains undetermined, and the accused have not admitted guilt (source: Malay Mail).
As these cases go viral, public anger has risen, many parents are blaming the education system, while others point fingers at video games and social media. However, the real question is: who’s truly responsible?
1. Is the Education System Failing?
There are undeniable weaknesses within the system, especially in the Zara Qairina case:
A witness revealed that teachers never officially allowed seniors to “discipline” juniors, it was an informal culture passed down from older students (source: Malay Mail).
Warden checks were often inconsistent, and supervision in dormitories was limited (source: The Star).
Many violent acts among students, whether bullying, physical assault, or “disciplinary confrontations” occur outside teacher surveillance hours, in secluded areas or dorms. So yes, the system has loopholes: weak supervision, outdated disciplinary cultures, and overworked educators but that does not mean the education system alone should carry the entire blame.
2. What About Video Games and Social Media?
The link between violent media and aggressive behavior has long been debated.
Here’s what the evidence shows:
A 2024 study reported in The Star found that violent video games do not necessarily make youth more aggressive. The relationship is not straightforward (source: The Star). A 2025 study published in Scientific Reports titled “The role of video game consumption habits in the relationship between gender and attitudes towards violence among adolescents” explores how teenagers’ gaming habits influence their attitudes toward violence.
The researchers found that video game consumption patterns especially violent games can shape how young people perceive aggression, but the effect varies by gender and individual personality. For example, male adolescents who play violent games frequently tend to view aggressive behavior as more acceptable or “normal” compared to their female peers. However, the study emphasizes that not every gamer becomes violent; rather, gaming exposure interacts with factors like self-control, empathy, family supervision, and school culture.
In other words, gaming does not directly cause violence, it amplifies pre-existing tendencies when emotional or moral boundaries are not guided properly.
This ties directly to the current issues of school violence. When students spend long hours playing violent or competitive games without parental or emotional regulation, they can become desensitized to real-world aggression. Combine that with weak school discipline and limited moral education, and the line between digital aggression and real-life behavior becomes blurred.
Similarly, a 2022 study published on PubMed Central titled “The effect of three violent video game engagement states on aggressive behavior” supports this. It found that the way a player engages whether they play passively, competitively, or emotionally affects their post-game aggression levels. Players who are emotionally immersed in violent games showed short-term spikes in aggressive thoughts and language even after the game ended.
However, a Malaysian study found that over 78% of students reported playing violent games, and this exposure correlated with lower empathy and more aggressive traits (source: ResearchGate).
This shows that emotional regulation not just the content of the game is crucial. A student who already struggles with anger or self-esteem may be more affected by violent games than one who plays them casually.
3. It’s Never Just One Cause, Everything Is Connected
School violence does not come from one single cause. It is often the result of several factors overlapping the education system, the home environment, and the digital world. Each plays a crucial role in shaping how a child thinks, reacts, and behaves.
At school, weaknesses in supervision and the continuation of unhealthy senior–junior traditions often create spaces for bullying and violence to occur without quick intervention. Teachers, many of whom are already burdened with heavy workloads, sometimes struggle to monitor every student’s behavior, especially outside classroom hours.
At home, some parents are too busy to spend enough quality time with their children. Communication becomes limited, discipline becomes inconsistent, and emotional needs are left unattended. When children grow up without guidance or understanding of empathy, they tend to release frustration in unhealthy ways sometimes through aggression.
Then there is the influence of the digital world. Many children spend hours playing video games or scrolling through social media without any monitoring. They are constantly exposed to content filled with anger, violence, and toxic behavior. Over time, such exposure can make violent reactions seem normal or even acceptable.
When all these factors school, family, and media fail at the same time, the result is a dangerous environment where conflicts easily turn into harm. That is why it’s never fair to point fingers at just one system. Every layer of society, from parents to teachers to policymakers, plays a role in preventing violence from taking root.
4. What’s Being Done About It?
The government has introduced few key initiatives in response:
- eKYC
Social media platforms in Malaysia will soon be mandated to implement stricter age restrictions for users as part of efforts to protect minors. The measure aims to ensure that under-age children cannot access and use social media unchecked, enhancing safety online (source: FMT). eKYC (Electronic Know Your Customer) for social media registration which banning users under 13 years old from creating accounts. The new ID verification process is seen as a key step to curb online scams, gambling, and fake advertisements, while also protecting minors from harmful digital content. (source: Soya Cincau)
The move has received positive feedback from parents who see it as protection from harmful content.
- Immediate Reforms
The Education Ministry (MOE) has launched immediate reforms in all 10,243 schools to enhance student safety and well-being, focusing on health, sexual and social education, child protection, teacher welfare, and student voices. Progress will be reviewed every 15 days, with ministry officials engaging schools directly to ensure effective implementation. (source: Malay Mail, The Edge Malaysia)
Hopefully, these initiatives by the Ministry of Education will truly succeed, as there have been far too many heartbreaking cases involving students lately. Strengthening safety, mental health, and awareness in schools is no longer just an option it’s a necessity to protect the next generation.
5. What Can Parents Do?
If you are a parent, the government’s initiatives may give some comfort, but change truly starts at home.
Here are a few steps that can make a real difference: (source: Positive Parenting Solutions)
- Limit Screen Time & Monitor Content
- Create screen-free hours or family activities that don’t involve gadgets.
- Discuss the content your child watches or plays violence should not be normalized or glorified.
- Build Emotional Intelligence
- Teach your child to express anger or frustration calmly.
- Use real examples or role-play to show how to handle conflict or bullying.
- Stay Involved with the School
- Attend meetings, check on school policies, and ask how bullying is being handled.
- Watch for Early Warning Signs
- Withdrawal, poor sleep, or sudden mood swings may point to bullying or trauma.
- Model Behavior at Home
Children mirror what they see. If parents manage conflict with calmness and empathy, children learn to do the same.
6. The Bigger Picture
So, should we blame the education system?
Partly, but not entirely. Violence at school reflects a collective breakdown of empathy, supervision, and accountability at school, at home, and in society.
The eKYC law and reform initiatives are good beginnings, but they must go hand-in-hand with:
- Better teacher training,
- More active parent-school partnerships
- Stronger emotional and digital literacy education
Teachers are already burnt out. Schools are overcrowded. Parents are busier than ever.
The safety of our children can’t wait for the system to fix itself. It starts with us.
Before we rush to blame teachers, schools, or even the education ministry, let’s ask ourselves: Have we done our part as parents, guardians, and citizens?Because at the end of the day, it takes an entire community to raise a child and to protect one.
Mimiana S. (mimiana30@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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