Corpun file 14980

The Star, Kuala Lumpur, 11 January 2005

Punishment must not be excessive or unnecessary

IT was first day of school in a secondary school in Taman Connaught, Cheras, and the pupils were all in high spirits and looking forward to a new year. 

However, all these were dampened by the strict discipline of the school even before the pupils stepped into their respective classrooms. 

Boys were hauled up by the school prefects for offences such as sporting hair that touches the collar and wearing bell-bottoms.  

Girls were caught for wearing mini-skirts and having more than one piercing per ear. 

Without giving prior notice, the boys were given public canning [sic], their hair was cropped and the girls were made to pull their ears and perform the standing-squatting punishment.  

This school has been known for its strict enforcement of discipline. More often than not, pupils are punished for small offences.  

The school authority must review its disciplinary system to see whether teachers have abused their authority and punish their pupils unnecessarily or excessively.  

They have created a lot of fear among the pupils and, as a result, some of them stay away from school during days when spot checks are expected to be conducted. 

I hope the school will seriously look into these problems and help create a conducive environment for the pupils and teachers. 

Counselling would be a better option than punishment for small offences. 

A CONCERNED PARENT, 
Kuala Lumpur. 
(via e-mail) 

© 1995-2004 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)

Corpun file 14975

New Straits Times, Kuala Lumpur, 18 January 2005

Mother outraged by teacher's punishment

ALOR STAR, Jan 18: A Form Two pupil was given 18 strokes of the cane by his Bahasa Malaysia teacher for not completing his assignments.

Megat Mohd Asri Megat Wahab's mother says the teacher overstepped his bounds and lodged a police report after Sunday's incident.

The teacher, on the other hand, countered that he had an agreement with the students of SMK Kepala Batas that they would be punished for not finishing their homework. The caning was aimed at teaching students to take their responsibilities seriously, he said.

Megat Mohd Asri said that he was assigned 10 essays on Jan 9.

He only completed one and was caned 18 times on Sunday, two lashes for each piece of uncompleted work.

The 14-year-old boy said that eight others who did not complete their homework were given between eight and 20 lashes each.

Megat Mohd Asri said the punishment took place in front of the class.

"I did not understand the questions and I did not know how to ask. When he caned me, I did not cry but I could hardly sit afterwards. It was so painful that I could not sit while riding my bicycle home.

"I kept quiet when I got home because I was afraid of being scolded for not finishing my homework. However, I had to tell my older sister and mother when they asked why I did not want to take a shower," he said at his home in Kampung Teluk, Bukit Pinang here yesterday.

His mother Rohani Yaacob, 46, has lodged a police report at Kepala Batas police station.

"I believe in memukul untuk mengajar (caning in order to teach) but this is too much. I cried when I saw his buttocks all bruised and swollen.

"I admit my son is a bit slow but this is not the way to encourage him to learn," she said.

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Corpun file 14985

Bernama Malaysian National News Agency, Kuala Lumpur, 21 January 2005

Hishammuddin Views Caning Of Student Seriously

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 21 (Bernama) -- Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein has expressed concern over the caning of a student in Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Kepala Batas in Alor Star on Sunday although the teacher explained it was done to instil discipline.

He said though some regarded it as an isolated case, there was a lesson to be learned from the incident as schools are supposed to be a safe, conducive and harmonious place to acquire education.

The ministry's schools division and the state education department would investigate the incident and submit a full report to him, he said a statement Thursday.

A Form Two Bahasa Malaysia teacher in the school caned a boy 18 times apparently as punishment for failing to complete nine of the 10 essay assignments set for him since Jan 9.

Two days after the incident, the student, Megat Mohd Asri Megat Wahab, 14, complained of difficulty in sitting or riding his bicycle.

His mother lodged a police report.

The 40-year-old teacher was also reported to have punished eight other students with eight to 20 strokes of the cane for the same reason.

"Once I receive the report, I will study it carefully and will not hesitate to take the appropriate action if there is evidence that the teacher had exceeded his authority," said Hishammuddin.

He said he was also concerned about another incident of a teacher of Sekolah Kebangsaan La Salle in Taman Ipoh, Perak, who allegedly forced students to swallow bread a few days ago. -- BERNAMA