AN award-winning school principal in the state, accused of sexually grooming a student, has recently been removed from the school.

Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching said he is currently being placed at a district education office while investigations are carried out by the ministry.

She said the action was taken to ensure that the suspect did not disturb the victim or other students during the investigation.

“I would like to emphasise here that the Education Ministry takes the allegations seriously and we must make sure that schools are a safe place for our children.

“I urged anyone with information, not just about this case but other cases, to report them immediately. We do not want any cover-ups and so on,” she told reporters in Kulai today.

She was commenting on reports that a secondary school principal, who recently received an outstanding award in Johor Baru was allegedly involved in the sexual grooming of a male student.

Teo said the ministry could take disciplinary and legal action if the principal was found guilty.

However, Teo said she was informed that the victim has yet to lodge a police report.

“The information I received last weekend, there was none (police report). I hope the victim will lodge a police report,” she said.

Last Thursday, the Johor Education Department said it was investigating the allegations, after an activist exposed the matter on social media.

Other than being accused of sexually grooming the male student, the principal was also alleged to have sent obscene messages to students. – Bernama, January 12, 2020.