The Sabah Education Department (SED) cannot deal with problem teachers by simply transferring them. This is sweeping the matter under the carpet. The problem is not dealt with, but is spread to another school, in another district.
Last week, a teacher who had stapled the ear of a pupil was transferred. It was not the first time that the SED had transferred problem teachers.
In October 2016, a headmaster who shared pornographic videos with his Whatsapp group was transferred, when his activities were made public. A month later, a teacher who allegedly raped several primary school pupils was also transferred. In all these cases, we were told that there would be a full investigation. To date, we have not heard the outcome of these investigations.
In the latest incident, on Sept 27, the parents of a 10-year-old schoolboy in Likas lodged a police report against their son’s teacher for allegedly stapling his ear. The female teacher wanted to punish the child for not completing his homework.
Neither you nor I would consider that the teacher had administered discipline. She was sadistic and tortured her charge.
Malaysian parents are already battling an education system which is riddled with inefficiencies in the curriculum, the quality of teaching, and poor discipline. This latest news about sadistic teachers will add to their disappointment.
Parents are responsible for nurturing, educating and disciplining their children at home. The task is taken over by teachers when the children attend school.
Parents know that the quality of teaching in many Malaysian schools is poor. Bullying is rife in some schools. Racism and religious extremism has also affected the overall quality of school life. Parents want the education minister, Maszlee Malik, to overhaul the education system. So how will he deal with the latest incident of discipline by stapling?
Teachers have a set of procedures to follow when they wish to discipline their students. In schools, specific teachers are given the sole responsibility of administering discipline – disciplinary teachers.
Many questions need to be asked.
How did this teacher end up stapling the 10-year-old’s ear? Does she not realise that she had misused the stapler?
Had she suffered a mental breakdown and been unable to cope with her workload? Does she have personal problems and snapped when the boy failed to complete his homework?
Is the boy a particularly naughty boy? Does he have an attitude problem and failed to respond to the teacher’s attempts to discipline him? Had she simply come to the end of her tether?
Is she the discipline teacher? Is the headmaster aware of the incident? Why did the other teachers and children keep quiet? Has this teacher warned them not to tell others about the incident? Were the children scared and kept quiet, lest they endure the same punishment? Can civil servants not be fired?
The Kota Kinabalu police have since recorded the teacher’s statement and obtained more information from the boy’s parents. SED director Mistirine Radin has promised to conduct a full investigation into the incident and provide the teacher with counselling.
In a follow-up newspaper report, on Oct 4, Mistirine said that after a meeting which was attended by the teacher, the boy and his parents, and members of the Education Department, the teacher was warned about her punishment and transferred to another school.
Mistirine said this action was taken in the interests of all the parties involved. Meanwhile, the police said the boys’ parents have “decided to let the matter go” and have withdrawn their report against the teacher.
Usually the police claim that a police report cannot be withdrawn. Are the police colluding with the state authorities to protect a civil servant? Is the teacher well connected?
Parents and Malaysians will not agree to this knee-jerk reaction to a serious matter.
Has the teacher serious psychological problems? In this case, the authorities appear to have absolved themselves of their responsibilities. If the teacher “snaps” again, students in her new school will be put at risk.
Abusive, sadistic and potentially dangerous teachers must not be transferred to other schools as in a game of “pass the parcel”. Offenders must face the law.
What sort of message does the transfer of dangerous teachers tell parents, students and other teachers? Most will think that they can abuse students with impunity.
Maszlee must deal with this latest incident with urgency. If this incident had been committed outside the school compound, the Child Act 2001 would have been triggered.
Why is the women, family and community development minister silent on this issue? The welfare of children should be her top priority. - FMT
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