Teenagers at an MBPJ brainstorming session want study halls for group discussions, free sporting activities and child-friendly competitions in the city. They want to feel safe.
STUDENTS living in low-cost flats and People’s Housing Projects (PPR) are in need of a safe living environment to do their homework and study.
A place to study should be envisioned for those living in cramped housing conditions, to prevent them from being affected by noisy neighbours and loud arguments in neighbouring units.
Besides that, children also need access to qualified external counsellors to express their feelings and concerns instead of having to approach their teachers.
These were among the ideas shared by Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) child councillors at MBPJ Children’s Participation and Protection Policy brainstorming session which was attended by 42 children, aged eight to 18, and 12 child facilitators.
Child councillors taking part in creating policy and suggesting child-friendly initiatives for Petaling Jaya.
Petaling Jaya deputy mayor Sharipah Marhaini Syed Ali said the city council passed the MBPJ’s Children Participation and Protection Policy at a recent full board meeting, making it the first local authority to do so in the country.
“A city must cater to everyone’s needs and children’s input is paramount in determining how the city takes shape,” she said.
“The policy is the city council’s commitment to ensure children are given the opportunity to be heard. This process also enables MBPJ to understand our children’s needs and educate stakeholders, which is in line with the 1989 United Nations Convention on the rights of the child,” she added.
Child-Friendly Cities Initiatives consultant Dr Amelia Alias said child councillors were included so that they could help in creating policies and come up with child-friendly city initiatives.
“There is no policy guiding MBPJ on executing effective and meaningful child-related policies. When we want to create a policy, we need to have evidence-based findings.
Amelia: The children discussed five topics –sports, urban planning, policy and budget, MBPJ activities as well as community and school.
“Now we have qualitative data from the stakeholders themselves, who are the children.
“MBPJ takes care of the community’s needs. We want the community to protect the children so we need to include kids in projects and enable their participation whenever possible.
“At the moment community involvement is adult-centred,” said Amelia.
She observed that at the brainstorming session, the children discussed five topics – sports, urban planning, policy and budget, MBPJ activities as well as community and school.
Child councillor Lekshya Keerthi Saravanan, 16, from SMK (P) Sri Aman said most secondary school students held group discussions but the library was not suitable for them to meet because they needed a place to discuss topics.
Lekshya: Students need a study hall to do their homework and hold group discussions, especially those from the B40 community.
Hence the need to set up study complexes that open past working hours to cater to the community, she said.
“We need a study hall where we can do our assignments and hold group discussions.
“Going to a cafe is expensive and many students live in flats and small apartments.
“MBPJ should consider building such amenities or open its halls at night to cater to students.
“We also need teachers who can assist students with homework after school. Most students cannot afford tutors, and they are in need of help,” said Lekshya who also suggested that these study complexes come equipped with computers and WiFi.
She said child councillors came from various backgrounds so she had heard of the plight of students from B40 communities.
Nurfaradilla: Children have trust issues with adults and are often not comfortable sharing information especially with their parents.
“Their flats are small and they hear their neighbours arguing. This causes them anxiety. I feel children should be in a safe living environment,” she emphasised.
Another child councillor, Nik Nur Sabrina Batrisyia, 16, from SMK Taman Dato Harun wants more free sporting activities, workshops and children-friendly competitions in the city.
“Children like games such as badminton and bowling and we should have a platform to play these games. Make it a monthly event. This will also give us an opportunity to showcase our talents during our leisure time,” she said.
The needs of disabled children should be looked into as well, said Melur Elvira Mohamad Iskandar, 16, from SMK Section 10, Kota Damansara.
“I had a disabled schoolmate who was teased often. His mother came to school regularly to complain about the teasing. I think we should give students like him a voice to speak in public forums so that others understand his struggle.
Melur Elvira: I feel many adults have an old mentality and are not in tune with children’s views.
“Since we can now vote at 18, our perspectives are important.
“I feel many adults have an old mentality and are not in tune with children’s views. This has to change so that we can have programmes and facilities suitable for everyone,” said Melur Elvira.
Another sports enthusiast Mohd Harris Mierza, 16, from SMK La Salle Petaling Jaya wants the city council to host more non-professional sporting events.
“We just want to have fun. Those who are not excellent in games should be able to play in matches as well, otherwise children will not have the interest to play any games because they feel they are not good enough if not chosen for any match,” said Mohd Harris at the brainstorming session which was facilitated by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Education Faculty lecturers.
From the session, the lecturers found that most students felt sidelined because adults did not take their opinion into consideration, said UKM Education Faculty industry and community partnership deputy dean Dr Khairul Jamaludin.
Khairul: Children feel their ideas are not taken seriously by their seniors in school, parents or siblings.
“Children feel their ideas are not taken seriously by their seniors in school, parents or siblings.
“They don’t feel safe sharing their thoughts because they want the information shared to remain confidential and exclusive.
“However, teachers don’t take this seriously and share the information with others, leaving students feeling disappointed and eventually losing trust,” he said.
Students also highlighted feeling biasness among teachers showing favouritism towards students who were academically inclined.
“Adults always talk about inclusiveness when planning any project but we fail to include children in planning for their needs. We may not include all of their ideas but we must pay attention to their needs,” said Khairul.
Child councillor Alyssa Zandra Mohd Zukarnain (holding the microphone) presenting her ideas at the MBPJ Children’s Participation and Protection Policy brainstorming session.
Safety in sports is important for children and this may have been overlooked when building sports facilities, said UKM Education Faculty student coordinator Dr Nur Shakila Mazalan.
“Sports equipment such as the children’s hockey sticks come in children’s sizes too but parents will only buy these if they can afford it, so some children end up playing with adult-size hockey sticks.
“The same goes for football, as there are footballs adapted in size for children.
“The field, too, can be made to cater to children. When these changes are not made, the child’s performance is affected.
“The child councillors shared about their enthusiasm for sports, and there should be proper facilities to enable them to give their best,” added Nur Shakila.
UKM Education Faculty deputy dean (post-graduate) Dr Nurfaradilla Mohamad Nasri said children had trust issues with adults and were often not comfortable sharing information, especially with their parents.
“When they cannot speak to their parents, they will turn to their peers. Children want to share their ideas and they also feel they face discrimination based on their social economic background,” she said.
