Malaysia will secretly monitor students via closed-circuit television cameras in some schools to curb discipline problems and improve security.

Education Minister Hishamuddin Hussein said the cameras would be set up without the students' knowledge, which he said would be more effective in preventing activities such as equipment theft.

"We will also install cameras in schools which do not have disciplinary problems as we don't want a perception that schools with CCTV have problematic pupils," Hishamuddin was quoted as saying.

Installation of the cameras is part of a pilot scheme to privatise security services in government schools.