Set Up School Ombudsman Can T Rely On Corrupt Moe Groups

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Several parties have urged Putrajaya to establish an ombudsman for schools to investigate and act on cases such as bullying and sexual harassment.
They called for the ombudsman to be free from interference by the government’s executive branch and described the Education Ministry as corrupt and inept.
“We cannot risk the lives of millions of our children by trusting the same old corrupt bodies.
“In conclusion, it is plain that the Education Ministry cannot be trusted and Parliament must act,” they said in a joint statement today.
They also urged the public to pressure their MPs so that a law can be enacted for an effective ombudsman to investigate alleged wrongdoing by teachers or ministry officials.
Among the groups who signed the statement were SIS Forum (Malaysia), Suara Mahasiswa UMS, Borneo Komrad, Tenaganita, and The Tiada.Guru Campaign.
Suara Mahasiswa UMSFormer DAP MP Kasthuri Patto and activist Marina Mahathir were among the signatories, too.
In scathing criticism of the Education Ministry, the groups said even the ministry’s director-general last month acknowledged that many sexual harassment and bullying cases in school had been “swept under the rug”.
They also dismissed the government’s move to increase the number of police, teachers, and CCTVs in schools to prevent bullying.
“All the claimed reforms, including CCTVs, more police, wardens, and more teachers, can and will succumb to the ministry’s culture of coverups.
“Who controls the CCTVs? The same old teachers and principals who have known and refused to act,” they said.
Remember ‘Tiada Guru’ case?
They cited the case involving several Sabah students who filed a lawsuit against SMK Taun Gusi and the government over their English teacher, Jainal Jamran’s constant absence from class.
They pointed out that the students sought redress from the court as school officials refused to act against Jainal.
Tiada.Guru members after their court caseFor the record, the Kota Kinabalu High Court ruled in favour of the students in July 2023.
Judge Leonard David Shim ruled that the five defendants in the case had violated the constitutional rights of the three students to access education.
The defendants were Jainal, SMK Taun Gusi principal Suid Hanapi, the director-general of education, the education minister, and the government.
Ombudsman with wide powers
Elaborating on the ombudsman, they said it should serve as a primary contact for students who were bullied and abused, or whistleblowers.
It should have ample powers to investigate and mete out disciplinary action against those alleged of wrongdoings, they added.
The ombudsman must also be “firewalled” from executive interference, with the government committing a percentage of the national budget for its operations, they said.
“And we must ban current and former public servants, politicians, and political entities (from the ombudsman).
“Let its top officers be elected by the people, not appointed by the prime minister.” - Mkini

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