It plans to do so by exposing them to the consequences of involvement in crime, Bernama reported.

Prisons director-general Zulkifli Omar said: “We are indeed, ready to give early exposure to the students so that they will not be involved in crime and drugs.

“The United Kingdom-based counselling education model can be used to increase a sense of awareness in them.”

He was speaking to reporters after a passing-out parade of the Prisons Department’s Correctional Undergraduate Voluntary Corps (Siskor) here today.

Recently, Education Minister Mahdzir Khalid said help of the Prison Department and police would be sought to counsel students with serious disciplinary issues.

He said they could be required to visit prisons as part of an educational or awareness tour instead of undergoing rehabilitation programmes there.

He said the prison visits will make them understand the repercussions of bullying.

Prison officers can brief them on the seriousness of the crime and the punishments involved if they commit the crime.

The education ministry is closely monitoring 402 schools nationwide which have been identified as having disciplinary issues such as involvement in crime, bullying and truancy.

Deputy Education Minister Chong Sin Woon had said from the total, 311 schools had high disciplinary issues and 91 schools were under the “hotspot” category.

He said last year, 111,895 students had disciplinary problems, 95,046 of whom from secondary schools and 16,849 from primary schools. Truancy was the main problem.

As for bullying, 872 cases were reported during the first six months of this year. There were 3,448 in 2016, 3,011 in 2015, 2,906 cases in 2014 and 4,120 in 2013.