Period spot checks barbaric practise, violation of privacy - Gerak

 

Academician group Gerak has called on the Education Ministry to take stern action against perpetrators of period spot checks, labelling it as a “barbaric practise” and a violation of students’ rights to privacy.

This comes after a report alleging 30 girls aged 18 or 19 had period spot checks conducted on them at their vocational college in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur, recently. 

“This revolting, barbaric practice is a clear violation of the students’ rights, especially their rights to privacy.

“It is nothing less than sexual harassment and abuse, including abuse of power by the teachers and other 'official' perpetrators,” the group said in a statement on Saturday.

Last week, it was reported that around 7.50pm on Oct 18, 30 girls studying at ERT Vocational College had been given cotton buds and were told to "prove" they were on their period.

The period checks had allegedly stopped for a while after media exposure about the matter earlier this year - and began again because one girl performed her prayers alone instead of with others at the hostel surau.

Despite protests by the students to comply with the check, they were allegedly instructed to perform their prayers if they felt uncomfortable about it.

Education Minister Radzi Jidin (above) had visited the school on Oct 27 to get feedback directly from the students and pledged commitment to ensuring that period spot checks would no longer be practised at any institution under his ministry.

Lack of urgency 

Gerak, however, lamented the lack of urgency by the ministry to stop the practice, despite media exposure about it in April this year.

“Had the Education Ministry acted immediately and decisively after the media exposure in April, this recent incident would not have occurred.

“Gerak is perplexed and exasperated at how slow the Education Ministry has been in putting an immediate stop to such an abhorrent practice in learning institutions under its watch.

“How many more students will need to be violated before the ministry takes concrete and decisive action?” the NGO asked, adding that Radzi had been promising to look into the matter since April.

The academicians reiterated their call for adequate redress policies for violations that occur during these checks, stressing the importance of a safe environment.

“It is the responsibility and obligation of the ministry to ensure that learning institutions are made safe for students to get an education and to learn.

“And the clear responsibility of teachers is to provide the students with a conducive environment to enhance their learning, and not, instead, to violate the students’ rights and privacy. Nothing less would be acceptable,” Gerak said.

Many women leaders have also lambasted Radzi for the period spot check incident, claiming that the latest round of alleged violations would not have happened if Radzi had been proactive and transparent on the matter. 

Various groups and public figures - including the All Women’s Action Society (Awam), Azalina Othman Said, Rafidah Aziz, Kasthuri Patto, Anwar Ibrahim, Hannah Yeoh, Teo Nie Ching and Maszlee Malik - have also called for the ministry’s action on the matter since the incidents were first reported in April. - Mkini