SCHOOLS have standard operating procedures which can prevent untoward incidents, Health Minister Dr S. Subramaniam said today.

He was speaking about the case of SMK Methodist Nibong Tebal Form Two student M. Vasanthapiriya, 13, who attempted suicide last Wednesday after she was accused of stealing her teacher’s iPhone 6. 

She died this morning after a week in coma. 

“We cannot have a situation in the school system where something like this can happen,” he said when visiting Vasanthapiriya’s grieving family in Kampung Tonghai in Nibong Tebal.

“It goes back to the school system and the procedures for dealing with situations involving students. 

“Schools have SOP to follow. If the procedures are observed, such incidents can be avoided.”
 
Dr Subramaniam said teachers would have to deal with disciplinary problems but there were proper ways to address them. 

“There cannot be situations where teachers become the police or investigator. If the situation goes overboard, we are left facing such a situation,” he said.

He said schools have counselling teachers and cautioned teachers to be alert when dealing with adolescent students. 

“At this age, students experience high pressure and stress. They respond to situations differently.”

Dr Subramaniam said he hoped the tragedy would serve as a lesson. 

“Today we lost a 13-year-old girl over reasons we are not sure of. Something like this should not have happened,” he said. 

Vasanthapiriya’s father Muniandy Ratnam, 54, said he was not blaming anyone, but hoped schools would follow SOP when dealing with students. 

He also said he had not thought about the next course of action. 

“We are getting ready for the funeral, which is tomorrow at 1pm, We still have prayers to conduct. 

“During this time, thinking about what we will do next is not good for my daughter,” he said. 

Muniandy said his family was grateful for the prayers and messages of condolences from relatives and friends from all races and faiths. 

“We also thank the education department, the state and federal government leaders who have come to see us, as well as the police,” he said. 

Meanwhile, Malaysian Tamilar Kural president David Mashel said its lawyer Paramjit Singh would seek meetings with the district police chief and the state education department to find out the progress of their investigations. 

He said the family deserved some closure.

It was reported that the teacher who accused Vasanthapiriya of stealing her iPhone had been posted to a desk job at the district education department office since the incident. 

The state education department had sent its report to the Education Ministry while the police had referred its investigation to the deputy public prosecutor. – February 1, 2018.