THE Education Ministry, with the National Legal Aid Committee and the Malaysian Bar Council, should cooperate to create a mini legal aid clinic in each school, or, at least in every state education department.
This is based on the revelation by Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed that more and more parents were lodging police reports against teachers.
The National Union of Teaching Profession (NUTP) proposed that the ministry implement a code of ethics for parents to protect teachers, as well as maintain a harmonious relationship between both parties.
The code of ethics for parents will ensure that teachers’ dignity and emotions are not affected by stress caused by parents’ displeasure over disciplinary action taken by teachers against their children.
Along with this concern raised by Nur Jazlan, the proposal by NUTP and taking into account the increasing challenges faced by teachers, the government can consider creating a mini legal aid clinic for schools to seek advice or information in case they were subjected to suits by pupils or parents.
Schools have to deal with students’ rudeness, truancy, bullying, gangsterism, smoking and drug abuse.
These problems are new challenges for schools and teachers, and they are more complex compared with in the past.
This clinic would allow all parties in schools, including students, to know their rights.
The move is also to guide school administrators and teachers on the next course of action.
The Malaysian Bar Council can provide input on how to run the clinic.
DR MUZAFFAR SYAH MALLOW,
Coordinator, Legal Aid Clinic, Faculty of Syariah and Law, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia.