III. TRAINING DIVISION 1. CHAPTER 2 The Training Division has kept moving forward optimistically to promote and educate our citizens about human rights. This year, the Education and Training Division received more invitations to deliver human rights talks from various parties including the Forestry Department, Bursa Malaysia Berhad, and the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives, and Consumerism (KPDNKK). Besides that, the level of acceptance by the public towards the Commission has increased positively and the cooperation given by Government agencies has been most satisfying. However, throughout the journey, there were quite a number of challenges that the Commission has had to face, such as the public’s perception that the Commission is a NGO instead of a statutory body, the perception that human rights is a western import, and many more. Nevertheless, these obstacles did not stop the Commission from striving to promote human rights to the Malaysian public. HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION Throughout 2016, the Training Division organised and carried out various programmes with schools, indigenous peoples, teachers, institutions of higher learning (IPT), and law enforcement agencies. (a) Human Rights Best Practices in Schools (HRBPS) Programme To date, the HRBPS programme has involved 222 schools in Peninsular Malaysia. The MOE is in the process of expanding it to as many more schools as possible in 2017, having seen the multiplier effect of the programme. The Commission acknowledges that we have a very good working relationship with the Daily School Management Division, which is in charged of this programme on behalf of the MOE. The Commission visited 16 schools in 2016. Most of the schools visited had successfully implemented the programme in their school activities, except for SK RPS Banun, which appeared to be having problems in implementing the programme. The school seemed to be experiencing some administrative issues and the teacher in charge had been transferred in early 2016.The Commission is concerned that the officer in charge of HRBPS at the Gerik District Office as well as the officer in charge at the State level have both failed to realise the problems in the school. It has been noted that the turnover rate of headmasters has been too frequent. There have been three headmasters within a period of four years. Such frequent change may prevent the smooth running of any institution and may result in miscommunication or even lapse of communication and reporting to the new administrator as in the case of SK RPS Banun. SUHAKAM ANNUAL REPORT 2016 95 suhakam 2new.indd 95 3/23/17 5:54 PM