Another fuck up by Education Ministry

"But I'm Not Wearing Underwear!" Students Told To Drop Trousers For Uploading YouTube Vid

Monday, 19 November 2012 12:48

View Comments PLEASE INVESTIGATE: Amir showing a copy of the report he lodged at Sentral police station yesterday. Pix: Harian MetroJOHOR BAHRU: Their crime? Uploading a video clip of themselves on YouTube after finishing their SPM exam paper. Their punishment? Being told to remove their trousers by teachers, even after one of the students confessed that he wasn't wearing any underwear. In addition, they subjected the students to 700 push-ups as well as multiple slaps, kicks and punches by three teachers, Harian Metro  reported. The incident is believed to have occurred last Monday, when the students had just returned to their dormitory at 5.30pm after spending time at a nearby shopping mall. When they returned, they were confronted by three teachers. It is alleged that the teachers were angry at the students for uploading a video of themselves on YouTube after completing their SPM mathematics paper. The roughly three-minute clip, uploaded on Nov 5, had depicted the antics of the students blowing off steam after their exam paper by copying a skit by a popular reality TV program. A father to one of the students, who only wished to be known as Amir, 47, described the teachers' actions as overboard, and did not even appear to be educational in nature. "I was told of the incident by the father of a fellow student. As a result of trauma from the incident, my son has now become withdrawn," he said. He said he first noticed behavioural changes in his son when the family visited him at the school last Thursday. He said the son acted out of the ordinary and was non-communicative throughout the visit. Amir said he was disappointed by the teachers' actions, which he claimed was unprofessional and based on emotions. "Granted, teachers have the authority to punish students, but it should be within reason. Going overboard can lead to stress which can affect students emotions and performance of the students, who are sitting for their SPM," said Amir, who hails from Kulaijaya. Amir said he has watched the video clip and felt it contained neither sensitive material, nor did it tarnish the school's name in any way. He said he didn't understand why the teachers lost their cool when the students were merely "releasing stress." "I'm disappointed. It wasn't enough that they dished out such humiliating punishment, but the teachers also threatened to blacklist the students SPM certificates if they told their parents about this," he said. Amir lodged a report on the incident at the Sentral police station yesterday. "I want justice for my son and I hope the police as well as the relevant authorities will investigate this," he said. Meanwhile, Deputy Education Minister Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi, when contacted, said his office was still awaiting a full report of the incident. "We will, however, investigate these claims so we can carry out further action," he said.  It is understood that the video has been taken down from Youtube by the student following orders from the teacher. - mD