Students in a secondary school are allegedly being subjected to period spot checks, according to a tweet.
The incident was relayed by an unnamed student to Ain Husniza Saiful Nizam, who posted a screenshot of the messages on her Twitter.
The student alleged that prefects in the school’s morning session would use a pen or pencil to conduct these checks.
However, female prefects in the afternoon session would go so far as to rub students’ private regions with their bare hands.
“Students have complained (of the incidents) to a teacher, but the teacher accused them of slander towards the prefects, even when there are many witnesses.
“What’s even more unbelievable is that the teacher who accused them of slander has also touched students. A female teacher shouldn’t even be doing that, right?” the unnamed student said.
‘Proof of menstruation’
The initial story of period spot checks was prompted by social media sharing of the phenomenon and once the first news article was published, more and more sufferers came forward to share their stories.
Current students and those who have left school up to 20 years ago have reported incidents of period spot checks where they were told to physically prove they were on their period.
The measures included showing their blood-soaked sanitary pads, doing swabs of their vagina with either cotton buds, tissues, or their fingers, or having a teacher, warden or school prefect pat them down at the groin to feel if they are wearing a sanitary pad.
It is believed that these incidents occurred at boarding and day schools, as well as in Islamic private schools.
A key trigger was the practice of teachers or seniors demanding “proof of menstruation” from girls who did not join daily congregational prayers which are commonly held in residential or religious-based schools.
In Islam, women or girls who are menstruating do not perform ritual prayers.
The ingrained belief that such practices (period spot checks) should be accepted often prevented the girls from telling their mothers or guardians, even when they feel violated.
Independent committee
In June 2021, Education Minister Mohd Radzi Md Jidin said that the 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.
However, he did not name the individuals on the committee at the time.
Radzi, his ministers and his ministry were, in fact, silent on the issue until late October 2021 when pressed into action with another round of alleged violations.
In a circular dated Nov 2, the director-general of the Education Ministry admitted that "the ministry found that physical examinations, especially concerning menstruation among female students, had occurred in educational institutions under the ministry”.
On March 17, it was revealed in a written parliamentary response by Radzi that the special committee had been established, comprising individuals with a background in education, religion, psychology and the law - who have knowledge and experience with regard to sexual harassment and bullying.
However, no updates have been made by the ministry since then.
Malaysiakini has attempted to contact Radzi for comment. - Mkini
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