Friday August 15, 2008
Wee: Ministry cannot act without probe
PUTRAJAYA: The Selangor education department has been directed to hold a domestic inquiry into the case of a teacher who allegedly uttered racial slurs against a group of Indian students recently.
Deputy Education Minister Dr Wee Ka Siong said the ministry could not simply take any action, including sacking an individual, without first conducting a domestic inquiry.
He told a press conference yesterday the teacher had been transferred to another school as a temporary measure as the case had caused feelings of hurt in the original school.
If the teacher remained at home during the investigation, he pointed out, the ministry would be accused of paying her for nothing.
Two students from SMK Telok Panglima Garang recently lodged police reports against the teacher, alleging that she had made derogatory remarks about Indian students and called them unflattering names.
Angry parents and other members of the Indian community had gathered outside the school to stage a protest against the teacher.
Dr Wee said Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein had expressed his concern over the matter and had asked him to personally look into it.
On another matter, he said the ministry would be working with representatives from the Health Ministry as well as psychologists to conduct a scientific study on hysteria among students.
From June to August, the ministry had received reports of hysteria involving 221 students from nine schools.
“We want to know how it happens and what measures can be taken in future,” he said, adding that it was common among Muslim students.
In the short term, he said, when such cases occurred, school counsellors and religious teachers would help the affected students.
Dr Wee said long-term measures included having more training courses for teachers and residential school staff members on how to deal with such a situation and avoid panic.
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