Letter to editor
FOR the last two or three months, there has been a terrible heat wave in the country. Even healthy individuals cannot stand in the hot sun for more than 10 minutes.
How then can young school pupils be punished by making them stand in the hot blazing sun for hours. This is sheer madness!
Such is the case of a 11-year-old boy primary school pupil in Ampang Jaya, Kuala Lumpur who was punished by a mathematics’ teacher by subjecting him to stand under the hot sun for almost three hours between 10am and 12.50pm on April 30.
The Year Five who went home exhausted with red eyes told his mother what happened in the school. He said he merely complained to the teacher of another boy for throwing a water bottle at him but he was punished by the teacher.
The other boys who were also involved in the incident were made to stand in the sun for only 10 minutes. The boy who was rushed to the Ampang Hospital by his mother AD Mogahana Selvi, 35, fainted there as a result of heat exhaustion.
Later the doctor confirmed that the boy who had heat stroke would be subject to OKU (disability) evaluation following two rounds of epilepsy.
Anyway, with the help of local NGO, the Malaysian Indian Action Force (MIAForce), a police report was lodged and the matter was eventually referred by the police to the public prosecutor’s office for further action.
Regrettably, the teacher who imposed the unthinkable cruel punishment has not been arrested. At least the educational authorities should have suspended him until the final outcome is known.
Harsh action needed
Apparently, the police informed the parents that a government employee could not be arrested or punished.
I understand that the male teacher will be charged under the Child Act, if at all he is charged. However, there are doubts expressed that the teacher will ever be charged and eventually prosecuted. There have been too many cases of those involved in crime who have yet to be charged.
It is not enough for Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek to say that action will be taken against the teacher concerned. I am advising Fadhlina to suspend the teacher temporarily until the final outcome is known.
More broadly, the presence of a few black sheep in the teaching profession has spoilt the good name of dedicated and responsible teachers.
How the Education Ministry is going to weed out these culprits remains to be seen. Fadhlina might be saying the rights things but unfortunately, she lacks the political will to overcome the rut in the teaching profession.
Her mentor and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who came to power on the promise of reforms is seen to be nowhere in implementing the much-needed reforms.
During school time, the society expects teachers to some extent to take on the role of parents apart from their normal teaching role.
However, if teachers behave like monsters in meting out cruel punishments, then how can the society trust their children with them? – June 3, 2024
Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy
Penang
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Main image credit: Harian Metro
