INVESTIGATIONS are still ongoing to determine if teachers were involved in alleged period spot checks of female students recently, says Education Minister Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin (pic).

       We are still carrying on with our investigations to determine if teachers were involved, he said.

       “If there is evidence of such, appropriate action will be taken against them,” he said when wrapping up his ministerial replies on Budget 2022 in Dewan Rakyat yesterday.

       Teo Nie Ching (PH-Kulai) wanted to know if the orders to carry out the period checks were given by teachers in the school.

       She was referring to the incident involving a school in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur recently where female students were allegedly physically examined.

       On the incident, Radzi said that he and several senior ministry officials had personally gone to the school concerned to question the students.

       “Following questioning, we were told that it was carried out by senior students on other students as a means to ensure discipline.

       “This is actually what had happened,” he said, adding that the findings were not made public to lessen the pressure on the students involved.

       He also said that the students were questioned by his officers and him in a hall. The school wardens and teachers were barred from being present during questioning.

       “From what was told to us, the practice was a tradition carried out by student leaders,” he said

       He said the students were advised to stop the practice.

       Radzi acknowledged there had been previous mention of similar incidents at different schools several months ago.

       “When we asked the media on information of the alleged incidents, they were said to have happened between three and a year ago.

       “As such, it was decided by the ministry at that time that it would be difficult to investigate the alleged past incidents.

       “That is why I immediately flew down from Sarawak to investigate the latest incident myself,” he said.

       On Oct 26, Radzi headed straight to the school after arriving at the KL International Airport to meet with the students involved and also the school’s principal and teachers.

       The issue over period check first began in April, when some students took to social media, saying that period spot checks were happening in schools during Ramadan.

       Following the latest incident, the Education Ministry issued a reminder on Nov 2 to state Education Departments and district education offices to halt period spot checks on female students.