EDUCATION groups, parents associations and activists have panned the Education Ministry (MOE) for its delayed and insufficient action in handling a rape joke case of a teacher and the bullying of a teenager who had highlighted the issue.

They questioned if the ministry’s course of action was the best that it could do in its capacity. 

They told The Malaysian Insight that the ministry had merely swept under the carpet on the many sexual harassment issues in schools that came to light recently.

MOE today issued a statement that the teacher who allegedly told jokes about rape has been transferred to the Selangor Education Department pending investigation.

Form 5 student Ain Husniza Saiful Nizam, 17, filed a police report last month against the teacher of physical education, who allegedly made the jokes in class.

Parents Action Group for Education chairman Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim said that the ministry’s response today was insufficient.

“The ministry should apologise on behalf of the teachers who traumatised students with period checks and lewd remarks made towards them in the past.

“Guarantee a safe space from now on. Provide a safe avenue for students to express their concerns or inhibitions,” she said.

Lawyer Azira Aziz, passionate about child rights, said the ministry’s response was just a “dismissive evasive comment” and was harmful towards students like Ain Husniza.

“It is fair for the ministry to state that they will not comment on the facts of the ongoing investigation by the police.

“But the ministry has to make it clear and set a strong stance on what is acceptable or unacceptable behaviour by teachers or fellow students in school,” she said.

Ain Husniza had presented an account of the teacher’s behaviour on TikTok, which went viral and sparked national outrage.

She also started a #MakeSchoolASaferPlace movement which saw Malaysians rallying behind her.

Other activists have also collected data and testimonies from other students and ex-students who went through similar situations through an Instagram page @savetheschoolsmy.

Azira pointed to these data and asked the ministry to prioritise children’s safety and welfare from predators within the school system.

“Just because it has been happening and swept under the carpet for years and decades, it does not mean this social dismissiveness and the expectation that young girls should be silent and put up with it continues.”

Expulsion letter unnecessary

Following her disclosure of the rape joke in school, Ain Husniza had come under criticism from some students, and had even face rape threat.

Her school had also issued her a warning for missing classes.

Melaka Action Group for Parents in Education chairman Mak Chee Kin said the warning letter sent to Ain Husniza for expulsion for missing classes was not justified.

MOE in its statement today said a record of attendance was kept on a system that enabled the teachers to keep track of the students and their conducts in school.

It said the system would generate a first warning letter if a student missed school for three consecutive days or ten non-consecutive days without explanation, noting that Ain Husniza was not being singled out by the school.

“The letter implied she had no reason for not going back to school. Everyone knows that she had threats,” said Mak.

“The school chose to release the warning knowing full well the teacher whom she complained about was still in school. 

“The threats were not addressed but she was expected to conduct herself as if nothing had happened.”

He said it was not fair that the relevant administrators were going by “procedures”.

“No doubt that the data or info would be captured by the system, but the administrators have the choice of not giving the letter based on Ain Husniza’s situation.”

The Child Rights Coalition Malaysia and Education Cluster of CSO Platform for Reform agreed that the ministry was not doing its role enough.

“The ministry has to step up and see how systems can be improved so that students’ dignity and child rights are protected in schools.

“The paternalistic attitude that we are adults and know better must stop.

“This series of events and responses really underline the fact that the concept of child rights is still alien to the MOE and the school teachers.”

Malaysia Unicef representative Dr Rashed Mustafa Sarwar also raised the need of creating a safer environment for children to speak up when they experience uncomfortable situations.

He tagged the Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rina Mohd Harun and its ministry in his tweet last night.

“I am disturbed by the news that period spot checks are seen as a normal practice within some schools.

“This is unacceptable and a violation of a child’s right to protection. Girls who experience this will be affected for years to come.

“I welcome Minister DS YB @RinaMohdHarun’s statement that the Ministry, @KPWKM will be investigating this matter and that Mara (Majlis Amanah Rakyat), according to its chairman, has started their own internal investigations concerning this.” – May 12, 2021.