Installing Cctv in School: Its Effectiveness and Admissibility as a Piece of Evidence

Author : Dr. Muzaffar Syah Mallow

Abstract : Recently, there was a hot debate among Malaysians over the issue concerning student’s safety in school. This is due to many reported incidents concerning the issue bullying, aggression and harassment which happen in schools in the country. Bullying, aggression and harassment can happen anywhere and at any times. Bullying, aggression and harassment can happen at the workplaces, on roads, inside public transports, within family, between spouses and friends and many more. Bullying, aggression and harassment can also happen in the educational institution like in school. Unlike the act of bullying, aggression and harassment which happen in other avenues, the act of bullying, aggression and harassment which happen in school should receive serious attention by everyone because it involves minor and young children who are relatively unaware over their rights to protect themselves from any forms of misbehaviours and attitudes and the inability to find ways to seek the necessary help if they become the victim of bullying, aggression and harassment. No one should take bullying, aggression and harassment issue lightly. For the last many years, there have been several reported news over the incident of bullying, aggression and harassment which happen in the school in the country. Parents demands the government to find a concrete solution to deal with these issues immediately. Society also want the government to f ind ways to stop the act of bullying, aggression and harassment from continue to happen inside school. Among many solutions which been put forward, the government decided to install closed-circuit television (CCTV) in school. In early November 2025, the government stated that CCTV cameras will be installed at strategic spots throughout schools, particularly areas where bullying cases have happened in the past such as ironing rooms. The Malaysian government had pledged a total RM8 million (Nearly USD4 millions) to place cameras in schools and hostels after a growing number of bullying and violent cases some lethal sparked public uproar and concerns about student safety. The installation of the cameras began in October, 2025. Out of 200 schools identified for the project, CCTV cameras have been installed in 149 of them (As to early November 2025). The cameras were installed at strategic public spaces such as main hostel pathways including entrance ways and exits, staircases and corridors, dining halls, prep rooms, ironing rooms and all locations that are isolated and quiet. Though the use of CCTV can be one of the steps to deal with the social problems faced by school, it should be done cautiously as it involves the monitoring process of a minor and young children. At the same time, CCTV can be used as a vital piece of evidence in a legal action. The installation of CCTV in school must consider several factors in order to protect student’s privacy and at the same time to make such tool a reliable piece of evidence in the court of law. Thus, the objective of the research is to analyse the effectiveness over the use of CCTV in order to ensure safety in schools as well as examine admissibility of CCTV as an evidence with reference to the Evidence Act 1950 [Act 56].

Keywords : CCTV, safety, evidence.

Conference Name : International Conference on Education Law and Special Needs Legislation (ICELSNL - 26)

Conference Place : Istanbul, Turkey

Conference Date : 21st Feb 2026