SHAH ALAM, July 13 — Schools must document student disciplinary cases to prevent teachers from being pressured by parents and to ensure actions meted out comply with procedure, said National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) secretary-general Fouzi Singon.
He said this is due to increasing concern among teachers as disciplinary actions are often contested, made viral, or reported to the authorities.
“This is no longer the age of physical action, but the age of documentation. Everything must have a record.
“For instance, if a pupil doesn’t finish their homework, is late, or commits a disciplinary infraction, everything must be fully recorded with the date, type of wrongdoing, and action taken,” he told Media Selangor.
According to Fouzi, complete logs don’t just protect teachers, but help with fair decision-making for school administrators and disciplinary boards in the event of disputes.
He added that each case must comply with procedure, starting with an investigation by the discipline master, before it is brought to the disciplinary board for it to determine appropriate action.
“If a case is found to be serious, and after the appropriate processes, (the student) must be expelled, the decision must be made without influence from any party.
“Appeals may be considered at (the board’s) discretion, but decisions must be based on facts and the severity of a case, not because there are quarters trying to defend students who commit wrongdoing,” he said.
He also said most teachers act according to school rules in disciplinary guidelines, but parents still dispute their decisions, which makes teachers reluctant to enforce the rules.
“For example, a student brings a drink into a computer lab when this is banned in the school rules. (Or there) are cases where students are reprimanded for wearing makeup or tinted lip balm to school, based on established rules, but when teachers reprimand them, students complain to their parents until the matter is brought to the school administration.
“In the end, teachers are asked to apologise even if they were only enforcing the rules,” Fouzi added.
He said the same happens when teachers run into students committing wrongdoing beyond the school compound, like smoking in uniform.
“Back then if students smoked outside the school compound, teachers could still take action even though the incident happened beyond the schoolgate. Now teachers are more careful because they’re worried about being questioned.
“I myself have received a complaint about a police officer who threatened a teacher for warning and having meted out disciplinary action on their child. There are also cases of lawyers issuing letters of demand to schools because teachers reprimand students,” he added.
Fouzi also said schools shouldn’t hide disciplinary cases to preserve their good name, as student and school safety are a priority.
He added that the Education Ministry (MOE) has established disciplinary case reporting procedures.
Meanwhile, he expressed hope that parents would cooperate with schools as efforts to shape students’ discipline, identity and excellence are a shared responsibility.
“No teacher wants their student to fail. All teachers want their students to succeed, be brilliant, and have discipline.
“Without parents’ cooperation, this aim won’t be achieved. Close cooperation from all parties is important so the future generation is more courteous, cultured, and disciplined,” Fouzi said.
