2007 08: Student may be suspended for strangling his teacher

The Star Online. News. Nation. Saturday July 28, 2007

KOTA TINGGI: A secondary school student may face suspension for strangling his teacher.

On Thursday, a 28-year-old teacher was strangled by the 17-year-old student at SMK Bandar, Kota Tinggi, after she told him to do squats as punishment for being noisy in the school's toilet.

The victim was teaching in her class at 10.25am when she heard a group of students causing a commotion in the school toilet.

She went there and told nine male students to come out.

However, she was met by jeers and taunts by the suspect when they did came out.

The teacher then decided to reprimand the student and three others by telling them to do squats 10 times but the same student ignored her orders and went back inside the toilet.

She grabbed his wrists but he brushed her hands away and shoved the teacher against a wall.
He then strangled her before other students came to break up the scuffle.

Kota Tinggi OCPD Supt Osman Mohamed Sebot said the teacher suffered bruises on her neck and other minor injuries.

State education director Mokhy Saidon said that the department would investigate the matter to determine the right course of actions to be taken.

"We will investigate and see whether there is a need to suspend the student," said Mokhy when contacted here yesterday.

Mokhy said the department would also arrange a meeting between the teacher and the student's parents before deciding on further actions.

.............................................................

Boy who attacked teacher expelled, but he can appeal

The Star Online. News. Nation. Sunday July 29, 2007

KOTA TINGGI: A secondary school student who tried to strangle his teacher for reprimanding him has been expelled.

State education director Mokhy Saidon said that the department had investigated the matter and decided to expel him.

“But he can appeal against the decision,” said Mokhy when contacted here yesterday.

On Thursday, a 28-year-old teacher was attacked by the 17-year-old student at SMK Bandar, Kota Tinggi, after she told him to do squats as punishment for being noisy in the school’s toilet.

She was in her class at 10.25am when she heard a group of students causing a commotion in the toilet.

She went over and told the nine boys to come out. The boys came out. Some jeered and taunted her.

The teacher decided to reprimand them by telling them to do 10 squats. However, the 17-year-old student ignored her and turned to return to the toilet.

The teacher grabbed his wrist to stop him but the boy shook off her hands, shoved her against a wall and started choking her before other students rushed to stop him.

Kota Tinggi OCPD Supt Osman Mohamed Sebot said the teacher suffered bruises on her neck and other minor injuries.

Mokhy said the department met the teacher and the student’s parents before reaching the decision.

“Students do such things probably because they feel that the teachers should not discipline them.

“This could be due to recent reports where teachers were reprimanded for punishing their students,” said Mokhy.

.............................................................

Schoolboy makes amends for action

The Star Online. News. Nation. Tuesday July 31, 2007

KOTA TINGGI: The 17-year-old boy who tried to strangle his female teacher has made amends for his action.

In the presence of Deputy Education Minister Datuk Noh Omar, who was at SMK Bandar Kota Tinggi to investigate the matter yesterday, the boy shook the teacher's hand and kissed it.

“We consider the case closed. The boy can appeal against the expulsion or asks to be transferred to another school,” Noh said.

The teacher said she would apply to be transferred to another school.

“I want to put the incident behind me,” said the teacher who taught English, Science and Mathematics.

Noh reiterated that all schools must follow the proper procedure in dealing with discipline issues, to be fair to all parties involved.

He said that while punishment was important to deal with discipline problems, adhering to the right process was even more important.

“I reminded all district offices last week that in such cases, the student, teacher, parents, parent-teacher associations and the police must be summoned to a hearing,” he said.

In this case, both parties acted emotionally, he said, adding that all teachers should not make spontaneous decisions.

“The student was wrong in this matter but the school was too focused on punishment and disregarded the right procedures.

“The student and his eight friends will undergo a motivation course at the curriculum centre in Johor Baru while the teacher will seek counselling,” said Noh.

Noh also said that a teacher in Bandar Baru Darul Aman, Kedah, who allegedly molested a student, would be suspended for two months.