KUALA LUMPUR: The National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) is calling on the Education Ministry to review the 1959 caning guidelines.
In a press conference, the union's Secretary General Lok Yim Pheng said that caning in schools is permitted as stipulated under a 1959 circular which specifies caning guidelines as part of the 1957 Education Ordinance.
Lok said that the present day society and challenges meant the guidelines needed to be reviewed through discussions with experts and stakeholders.
"I think there are many teachers and parents who are unaware of this guidelines and this can lead to misunderstandings."
Lok said that under the current guidelines, only male students can be caned by headmasters.
The guidelines also state that the headmasters can delegate this duty to the assistant headmaster, discipline teacher and selected teachers with the permission of the head master.
Lok said that the guidelines further stated the procedures, methods and reasons for caning which included fighting and smoking.
Lok also called on teachers to be aware of the guidelines and not cane students at their whim and fancy.
"Only use caning as a last resort to discipline the students and even then according to the guidelines."