Kuala Lampur, Oct. 23 -- Every morning, thousands of Malaysian parents send their children to school with one simple expectation: that they will return home safely. Yet recent incidents have raised an uncomfortable question. Are our schools truly safe, or are we simply waiting for another tragedy before taking action?

The reported death of a teenage girl at a school in Yong Peng, Johor, and the subsequent murder charge against a 16-year-old schoolmate shocked the nation. As the case remains before the courts, we must avoid speculation about the circumstances or motives. However, the tragedy should force us to examine a wider issue that deserves urgent attention: the emotional well-being of our students.

For too long, school safety has b...