2007 06: Panel to handle discipline

The Star online. News. Nation. Tuesday June 5, 2007

IPOH: Any punishment to be meted out to students will have to go through a special committee in each school.

Deputy Education Minister Datuk Noh Omar said the committee, to be set up in each school, would consist of teachers and PTA members.

“We hope to set up the committee by this year as the ministry is fine-tuning the ordinance pertaining to disciplining students,” he said.

At present, only school principals have the power to mete out punishment to students.

Speaking to reporters after opening a course for district education officers here yesterday, Noh said the committee was needed as sometimes students dared not speak in front of teachers.

“With the committee, it will ensure fairness when meting out punishment,” he added.

On reports of teachers being too harsh when disciplining students, Noh attributed this to teachers being unaware of regulations and procedures on the matter.

“If teachers were to mete out punishment appropriate to the type of wrongs committed by students, the problem of indiscipline can be better managed,” he added.

“We want to educate students and there are many ways of doing it.”

Noh also said that PTA meetings must include discipline in school on the agenda.

“We do not want the meetings to just discuss academic matters.

“They should also discuss how to solve disciplinary problems as everyone has to be involved in combating indiscipline in school,” he added.