PADANG TERAP: The Education Ministry defended is school expulsion punishment for school pupils who were involved in serious disciplinary cases.
Its minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said the punishment is still relevant but stressed that it is not being done without proper procedure.
"The punishment (to expel problematic students) is still relevant but the action is not being taken hastily without proper procedures," he told reporters after visiting poor and needy families in Padang Sanai here today.
On a related matter, Mahdzir added that there is no need to set a special schools for problematic school kids or those expelled from schools for now.
Mahdzir, who is also Padang Terap member of Parliament said was responding to suggestions for the ministry to set up a dedicated school to rehabilitate problematic students.
On Monday, the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry has proposed to the Education Ministry that all problematic school kids should not be expelled from school.
Instead, its minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim had said the students should be put in a special rehab class handled by school counsellors.
She was reported as saying that it was crucial for school going children to complete their 12 years of basic education as professional school counsellors are available to assist them.
On a separate matter, Mahdzir said the move by SK Presint 14 in Putrajaya to get the pupils to hold Umno flag and playing the party's official song on Tuesday should not be seen as part of education process.
He said the move was just part of an initiative to educate the pupils on the nation’s history.
Mahdzir stressed that there is nothing unusual with the programme as it was part of the school-level 60th Merdeka anniversary celebration.
"The school is just merely explaining to the pupils that Umno was the party responsible in securing the country’s independence.
"The then Umno president Tunku Abdul Rahman had gone to London to seek our independence, so all Malaysians must be reminded of that," he said.
He added that the Opposition leaders who are politicising the issue should realise that the nation’ history could never been altered.
He said the opposition may say anything they wish but they could never deny the fact that Umno was the pillar behind the nation’s independence, with the assistance from MCA and MIC.
Translated from Berita Harian