SOP was not followed, says Subra
Published on: Friday, February 02, 2018
Kuala Lumpur: Schools have Standard Operating Procedures which can prevent untoward incidents, Health Minister Dr S. Subramaniam said.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 Thursday morning after a week in coma. "We cannot have a situation in the school system where something like this can happen ," he said.
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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 hoped the tragedy would serve as a lesson.
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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.
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Deputy Education Minister II Datuk P. Kamalanathan said the ministry will cooperate fully with the police in getting to the bottom of the case."We view this case with utmost priority and want justice done without fear or favour," he said."The teacher in question has been moved to the district education department," he said.A teacher in her school had allegedly accused the Form Two student of stealing her handphone on January 24.In the incident, where three other teachers were also present, the teacher also threatened to report the student to the police.The teacher then allegedly locked the student in a room for four hours before taking her home to confront her parents.The student hanged herself in her room while her parents were talking to the teacher.She also left a note apologising to her parents for taking such an action and said that she did not take the teacher's handphone.Meanwhile, a group who has been supporting the family went further by suggesting a murder investigation."We want the police to take action against the teachers because now my niece is dead because of what they did to her," the girl's uncle, R. Manogaran, 40, said.Manogaran said the teachers who allegedly threatened his niece and accused her of stealing should be held responsible for his niece's death."We have lodged police report but till today, the police have not arrested anyone," he said.Malaysian Tamilar Kural president David Marshel Pakianathan, said: "When we asked them about it, we were told they are investigating but till today, the teachers involved were not arrested".He said Vasanthapiriya's case is not a suicide case, but can be considered murder."She was bullied by the teachers to the point that she took her own life, this is due to what the teachers did to her," he said.David alleged that the teacher and her husband had taken the student out of the school without the parents' consent.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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