NUTP calls for review of caning guidelines by Education Ministry

KUALA LUMPUR: The National Union of Teaching Profession (NUTP) secretary-general Lok Yim Pheng said that a review of the Education Ministry's 1959 circular under the Education Ordinance of 1957 allowing caning is outdated and should be revised to suit current times.

Lok explained in a press conference today that under the circular, headmasters and discipline teachers are given specific powers to handle discipline cases, one of which is caning.

The ordinance states that Headmasters of schools can, at any time, based on his or her own discretion can choose to punish students in any way they see fit.

She said that the NUTP are in objection to the suggestion made by the Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim recently that caning should be a crime.
"The NUTP are not agreeing that caning should be banned in schools, we want it to be allowed, but in controlled situations as stipulated by the education ministry," she explained.

She did however agree that a review needed to be done for the ruling to adapt to modern times.
"In 1959 caning was not an issue, today it is different, we have many children coming from many backgrounds and the times have changed," she said.
Lok also warned all teachers to tread lightly when taking action into their own hands.
She urged them to follow due process when dealing with students with disciplinary problems.
"Teachers can cane students, but the headmaster should give the approval to do so, they must also do it under controlled circumstances," she said.
Lok said that the guidelines further stated the procedures, methods and reasons for caning which included fighting and smoking, and urged teachers to use caning as a last resort when handling troubled students.