Perlis is keeping a clean sheet on gangsterism in schools by teaching its 'naughty students' to build sandcastles among others in a pre-National Service (NS) programme.

According to a Bernama report today, Mentri Besar Shahidan Kassim said the 'gentle approach' he advocated over the years proved effective as no cases of gangsterism were reported in schools there for several years.

Elaborating on the latest method, he said 'naughty' students will be identified and sent to participate in a pre-NS programme.

The menteri besar, who also chairs the Perlis Education Committee, expected some 4,000 students to undergo the programme by the year-end.

In order to avoid negative public impression over such sessions, he added that high academic achievers and disciplined students would also be included.

So far two three-day pre-NS sessions have been held. One in Bukit Ayer Resort, Sungai Batu Pahat early this month which involved 200 students and another, which ended Sunday in Langkawi island where 240 students took part.

Sandcastles and badminton

Shahidan said the students indulged in fun-filled activities like designing and building sandcastles to improve their sense of belonging and team spirit.

To show his seriousness, the menteri besar himself became a facilitator at the pre-NS sessions and every evening, he would invite participants to a game of badminton.

Meanwhile, he also called on school authorities to make the delinquent students school prefects in order to stop them from being involved in negative behaviour.

"This appears to be effective," he said.

Over the years, Shahidan had conjured many controversial ideas on dealing with indiscipline and this included re-introducing caning.

He also drew flak from the public after proposing that youths in Perlis should be barred from leaving their homes at night without being accompanied by their parents.

He argued that the move was to prevent the youths from falling prey to social ills. However, he said hose who had to attend tuition in the evenings would be spared the regulation.