We are disturbed at the recent reports of teachers just going through the motion of teaching students in school and then telling students to attend their tuition classes for better understanding of the subject.

Students who cannot afford to attend these extra tuition classes are at a clear disadvantage.

The Education Ministry should deal firmly with these teachers to deter such misbehaviour. Those clearly found to be going against what is expected of them should be sacked.

Overall, there needs to be an immediate revamp of the whole education system. Students cannot wait for five years for positive changes in the public education system to take effect.

We call on the Education Ministry to immediately investigate and take corrective action. If most students cannot grasp the bulk of lessons taught during normal teaching hours, there is something seriously wrong.

Perhaps, as a pilot project, immediate measures could be initiated to revamp the delivery of just one subject first in all schools nationwide. Education experts, counselors, psychologists and parents could be roped in to form a committee to oversee this project.

Examples can be taken from successful education systems that have been proven to work in properly educating students.

The writer is president of Consumers Association of Penang.