Unhappy with schools or teachers? Call or email the ministry

 

The education ministry has set up a hotline and a whistleblower email address to accept complaints about education staff, schools or teachers. (Rawpixel pic)

PUTRAJAYA: The education ministry has set up its own whistleblower system to accept complaints from the public against education staff at all levels including schools and teachers.

Details of informants will be classified as highly confidential, the ministry said in an announcement on April 12.

The ministry said complaints can be made against any staff of the ministry or state and district education offices, or against teachers or schools. The notice also made reference to board members of related government-linked companies and statutory bodies.

It said anyone with a grievance or who has information on any wrongdoing can email, call a hotline or meet an officer delegated to act on the complaints.

It said the new move, known as the Education Ministry Protection Policy, will protect staff or members of the public who lodge complaints of any criminal wrongdoing, ethical breaches or cases of indiscipline that they encounter when dealing with its officers at all levels.

“Although the federal government has its own public complaints channels, the education ministry is taking the initiative to implement its own policy for this purpose.

“This is to encourage whistleblowers to channel information and complaints against staff of the education ministry at all levels directly to the integrity unit and the officer in charge. This is also to protect the whistleblowers,” the ministry said in the announcement.

It said any information or complaint that involve staff in criminal wrongdoings would be relayed to the relevant enforcement agencies, adding that it could be one that is about to happen, currently going on or had already taken place.

“All complainants must include their personal and contact details to qualify for protection under this policy. Those with incomplete information will not be protected. However, their grouses will still be received and investigated,” it said.

However, complaints against ongoing court cases or disciplinary actions will not be entertained.

The ministry warned anyone against lodging complaints that were based on fake news, with ill intentions to bring down others, or to further their own interests at the expense of those they are complaining against.

Those with complaints or information can email to whistleblower.ui@moe.gov.my or call 03-8884 7780 / 03-8884 7773. - FMT