Wednesday February 28, 2007
Schools must help weaker students
KUALA LUMPUR: It is time to think of the weaker groups of students who are often forgotten due to the emphasis on good grades – that is the message to schools from both teachers and parents.
National Union of the Teaching Profession secretary-general Lok Yim Pheng said the shocking revelation that all but one of 887 female students with disciplinary problems surveyed had admitted to having sex showed that schools must adjust to the needs of such students.
“It is common for schools to have extended hours of activities that are academically inclined but forcing such activities on these student won’t help them. They’re more likely to rebel,” she said.
She was responding to a Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia study which also showed that most of the respondents took drugs and were involved in secret societies, vandalism and truancy.
Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said the ministry’s parliamentary secretary P. Komala Devi had been directed to look into the matter.
Meanwhile, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said UKM Children and Youth Psychology specialist Dr Khaidzir Ismail who conducted the study should have stated whether it was an empirical or random study.
“It is strange if all the respondents had actually answered yes.
“If the study was done on an empirical basis, the relevant authorities must act fast because as the Malay saying goes, api telah naik ke bumbung (the problem has reached a critical stage),” he said.
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