LETTERS: The Rotary Club of Alfa Ampang recently organised a campaign to discourage schoolchildren from bullying.
Posters, videos and slogans were created to highlight the repercussions for children — both the perpetrators and the victims.
Students responded enthusiastically to the campaign. I believe such a drive in other schools would be well-received, too.
Schools throughout the country can also start campaigns against another scourge — vaping.
Vape-related issues deeply trouble parents, teachers and the education authorities.
Students in some schools vape in toilets and in unused classrooms. In a recent case, six students in a secondary school in Selangor vomited after sharing a vape.
Another student was high and had bloodshot eyes; he could not stand or walk properly.
The Education Ministry has rolled out several measures to address this problem. It carries them out during school assemblies, group guidance sessions, lectures, exhibitions and co-curricular activities.
It is well established that vaping poses significant health risks, especially to young, developing bodies. These include nicotine addiction, lung damage and exposure to harmful chemicals.
Vaping can lead to the use of traditional tobacco products, perpetuating a cycle of addiction.
It can also affect academic performance and cause addicts to drop out of school.
School authorities and students can buttress the Education Ministry's efforts in several ways.
They can empower students to take a stand against vaping by holding peer-to-peer education programmes. They should encourage students who have quit vaping to share their experiences with peers.
They may also collaborate with celebrities and social media influencers to spread anti-vaping messages.
Since parents play a crucial role in shaping their children's attitudes, they should be roped in for informational sessions.
It takes a collective effort to combat vaping and create a healthier and productive future for the next generation.
TAN SRI LEE LAM THYE
Chairman
Alliance For A Safe Community
