The Education Ministry has reportedly issued a circular to all state education department heads emphasising that the practice of period spot checks is prohibited.
In the circular sighted by Malaysiakini and verified by an MOE source, the director-general of the MOE says that "the ministry found that physical examinations, especially concerning menstruation among female students, had occurred in educational institutions under the MOE.
"The MOE takes this matter seriously and stresses that it should not happen," read the circular which is dated Nov 2.
"In relation to that, all state education department heads and district education officers must ensure that this practice of physical examinations must not occur in institutions under the MOE," read the circular.
It also called on those individuals to be vigilant to ensure that this practice does not recur in the future.
"Immediate action must be taken if such practices were to recur in such institutions," read the circular.
Malaysiankini's attempt to verify the document with Education Minister Mohd Radzi Jidin and his staff was not successful, but a source from the ministry's policy division told Malaysiakini that it was legitimate.
"The circular was sent as a letter to state education department chiefs, that's why it's not on the MOE website.
"It is a follow-up to the minister's statement on Oct 28," said the source.
This followed a visit by Radzi to the ERT Vocational College in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur, following allegations that period spot checks had been conducted.
A source said that about 30 other girls aged 18 or 19 were rounded up at around 7.50pm on Oct 18, given cotton buds and were told to "prove" they were on their period.
Various groups and public figures - including the All Women’s Action Society (Awam), Azalina Othman Said, Rafidah Aziz, Anwar Ibrahim, Hannah Yeoh, Teo Nie Ching, Kasthuri Patto, Fadhlina Sidek and Maszlee Malik - have also called for the ministry’s action on the matter since the incidents were first reported by Malaysiakini in April.
In June, Radzi said that the Education Ministry was in the final stages of forming an independent committee to look into existing procedures that addressed complaints on the practice of period spot checks in schools, as well as other related matters.
Key details on the probe’s committee have yet to be disclosed to the public. Malaysiakini has sent more than 10 enquiries on this matter without receiving a response.
The ministry’s initial investigation - which was carried out in response to public outcry and reported complaints - purportedly did not indicate that such practices and other disturbing incidents had occurred.
These incidents - some of which date back to 20 years ago - allegedly include showing blood-soaked sanitary pads, performing vaginal swabs with either cotton buds, tissues, or fingers, or having a teacher, warden or school prefect pat the students down at the groin to feel if they were wearing a sanitary pad.
In response to the inconclusive investigation, Malaysiakini submitted a list to Radzi, which named 15 schools where female students were allegedly subjected to period spot checks.
A copy of the list was also sent to Radzi’s deputies, Muslimin Yahaya and Dr Mah Hang Soon, as well as the ministry’s secretary-general and Corporate Communications Department.
The list was sent along with other details, such as the dates of alleged offences (most of which dated from 2011 to 2018) and the wardens or teachers who were named by the students.
The names of the alleged victims were not included in the list.
Separately, Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) had also conducted its own investigation on the practice of period spot checks in schools administered by the agency.
However, it has yet to release a statement on the findings of its investigation, contrary to what was initially promised by Beaufort MP and Mara chairperson Azizah Mohd Dun on May 6. - Mkini
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