MOE probes teacher who allegedly told student to 'go back to China'

Summary 

• The Education Ministry is investigating a teacher who allegedly told a student to “go back to China” after they faced difficulties in their Malay language classes.

• The teacher also allegedly threatened a man claiming to be the student’s relative by claiming that her husband is part of the police force and can locate the individual through his phone number.

The Education Ministry is probing an incident where a secondary school teacher allegedly told a student to “go back to China” after they struggled with Malay language classes.

Noting that the ministry does not tolerate racial statements or actions within the education system, a ministry spokesperson said that the issue is undergoing a thorough internal investigation.

The ministry has also scheduled a meeting with the student’s parents while psychosocial services have been offered, the spokesperson added.

“The ministry conducts various specialised training programmes to enhance the professionalism, competence, and ethics of educators. 

“This includes pedagogical training that covers aspects of classroom communication,” the spokesperson was quoted as saying by Free Malaysia Today.

The ministry added that government educational institutions are required to be safe, inclusive and respectful of students’ diversity in terms of race, religion, and cultural backgrounds.

Teacher’s alleged threat

The teacher’s remarks were captured in a now-viral audio clip, in which a man claiming to be a relative of the student confronted the teacher.

The man is heard asking the teacher if she had told the student to “go back to China”. The teacher confirmed it, adding that she had previously made similar comments to other students without facing any complaints.

Besides allegedly calling the student “stupid” while ordering them to “sit near the rubbish bin”, the teacher was also accused of criticising the student’s parents for their inability to speak Malay.

When the man in the audio clip declined to state his identity, the teacher reportedly threatened to file a report against him over the supposed privacy invasion.

She also claimed that the man was disturbing her while she was on medical leave, cautioning that her husband was police personnel and could locate the man through his phone number.

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