TEACHERS are demanding a parental code of ethics when they act against problem pupils following a criminal case against a colleague who will stand trial in a Negri Sembilan court today.

Such a code would protect teachers against unwarranted reprisals from dissatisfied parents, said the National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) president Kamarozaman Abd Razak.

He said the Seremban case involving Azizan Manap is an example of why such a code of ethics is needed as the former had been sent to his primary school to deal with its persistent disciplinary problems.

Azizan is a senior assistant in charge of pupil affairs who is being charged with allegedly hurting a standard five pupil at a primary school in Nilai. The teacher said he punished the boy for sniffing glue, bullying and assaulting other pupils.

“When there is no code of ethics, parents can just do what they want and teachers cannot protect themselves,” said Kamarozaman.

NUTP had lobbied the Education Ministry before for such as a code of ethics but the government has yet to respond to its request, he added.

Kamarozaman (pic) said the lack of a code and Azizan’s case would cast a pall over other teachers throughout the country as they would not feel secure carrying out their duties.

“We hope that the ministry views this issue seriously as teachers only want to carry out their duties. They won’t have any assurance after (this case). If we lose this case, it will be very dispiriting.”

Firm hand

Azizan will stand trial today under Section 323 of the Penal Code for causing hurt to one of his pupils. If found guilty, he faces a one-year jail-term, a RM2,000 fine or both. He will also lose his job.

Azizan had allegedly slapped the boy who had repeatedly been caught sniffing glue, fighting, skipping class and bullying other children.

The case has created an uproar among teachers and civil servants with 300 of them planning to show up outside the Seremban magistrates’ court where he is being tried today.  

Kamarozaman said Azizan had just started his stint at SK Taman Semarak in Nilai and was put in charge of dealing with its disciplinary problems.

Primary schools are usually not known for having such problems but Azizan’s school has children who allegedly are juvenile delinquents, he said.

“The neighbourhood around the school is known for being a breeding ground for gangs and drug abuse. So, when some of these children come to school, they bring along these problems.

“Cikgu Azizan was firm in wanting to quash these problems in the school.”

Azizan’s stern hand won the support of the school’s parent-teacher association and many parents believed the teacher could turn the school’s reputation around, Kamarozaman said.

There were, however, some who were uncomfortable with Azizan’s approach.

“They lodged a police report. We had urged all parties to settle the issue without involving the police but this did not happen. So that’s why Cikgu Azizan was dragged to court.”

Pray for Azizan

NUTP is providing a lawyer to defend Azizan but Kamarozaman was disappointed over the Education Ministry’s attitude.

“The ministry should defend its teachers but they said it was now a criminal case. But the case occurred within the school.”

If found guilty, Azizan would likely lose his job, said Kamarozaman.

Azizan’s fellow teachers have started a social media campaign with hashtags #PrayForCikguAzizan and #AnakkuSazalitidakakanberulang.

Besides teachers, Azih Muda, president of the public sector unions umbrella group Cuepacs, and other officials from are also expected to attend.

Also expected to be present are Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Mohamad Hasan and his education exco Shamsulkahar Mohd Deli. – December 19, 2017.