Thursday August 14, 2008 MYT 6:29:55 PM

Education dept to probe 'racist' teacher

By KAREN CHAPMAN

PUTRAJAYA: The Selangor state education department has been directed to conduct a domestic inquiry into the case of a teacher who had allegedly uttered racial slurs against a group of Indian students recently.

Deputy Education Minister Dr Wee Ka Siong said the ministry could not simply take any action including sacking an individual without first conducting a domestic inquiry.

"We will decide on the action to be taken after we study the findings of the inquiry," he told a press conference at his office on Thursday.

Dr Wee said the teacher was transferred to another school but added this was a temporary measure as the case had caused hurt feelings in the original school.

"I want to clarify several news reports that the teacher was either promoted or moved to a school nearer her home. The move is just a temporary measure while we investigate the matter," he said.

If the teacher remained at home during the investigation, he said the ministry would be accused of letting her be paid while not doing any work.

Two students from SMK Telok Panglima Garang had recently lodged police reports against the female teacher, alleging that she had made derogatory remarks about Indian students and called them unflattering names.

Angry parents and other members of the community had also gathered outside the school to stage a protest against the teacher.

Dr Wee explained that Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein had expressed his concern over the matter and had asked him to personally look into it.

On another matter, he said the ministry would be working with representatives from the Health Ministry as well as psychologists to conduct a scientific study on hysteria among students.

From June to August this year, he said the ministry had received reports from nine schools involving 221 students on the matter.

"We can base the scientific study on the data from the 221 students. We want to know how it happens and what measures we can take in the future," he said, adding it usually happened among Muslim students.

In the short term, when such cases occur, he said school counsellors and religious teachers would help the affected students.

Dr Wee said long-term measures include having more training courses for teachers and residential school staff members on how to deal with the situation and avoid panic.