JAIS mulls police help when recruiting teachers, to curb sexual misconduct

 Selangor Islamic religious department chief says it would be part of the new teacher screening process that it hoped to implement.

JAIS director Shahzihan Ahmad said there needs to be security screening, and it will discuss with the police on how to implement the screening. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

The Selangor Islamic religious department (JAIS) is considering getting police clearance as part of its teacher recruitment process, to curb misconduct involving sexual offences in religious schools.

JAIS director Shahzihan Ahmad said it would be part of a new stringent teacher screening process it hoped to implement, Bernama reported.

“There is a possibility that we will require all teachers to obtain a police clearance.

“There needs to be security screening, and we will discuss with the police how to implement the screening,” he was quoted as saying after the closing ceremony of the state preparatory course for students going abroad (Middle East) in Shah Alam today.

According to Shahzihan, discussions are currently under way with the school registration committee, on the measures and guidelines for the recruitment process.

He said guidelines governing interactions between students and teachers are also being discussed to address the issue, with stricter segregation to be proposed.

“Teachers, administrators and other students must not do anything that should be avoided, such as giving special treatment or meeting at unusual hours.

“They should not hold meetings or memorisation sessions at quiet times or when there is no supervision,” he said, according to Bernama.

Previously, the media reported that the state government had handed over the investigation into a case involving alleged sexual assault by a teacher against a student at a religious school to the police. - FMT