SPOILED DEFIANT STUDENTS

Malaysia risks having a generation of spoiled and defiant students in the future if the Education Ministry turns a deaf ear to the calls for specific punishments to be-

Meted out to students with disciplinary problems, said the country's teachers.

The National Union of the Teaching Profession [NUTP] yesterday said it couldn't stress enough on the need for a new and more specific set of of punishments that would be allowed in setting students with disciplinary issues straight.

Their point would, however, be moot as the ministry yesterday put its foot down to say that nothing was going to change in the way students were to be disciplined.

The last circular issued on ''allowable punishments'', other than the ones specified in the  Education Regulations, is the circular No. 8/1983, which was issued in 1983.

Education Director General told the press that, the circular remained relevant to this day and no new circular would be issued.

''The circular clearly states that any physical punishment that may cause insult or embarrassment to pupils is not allowed, except canning for male students, found in the professional circular No7/2003

The ministry, he said, had also specified forms of punishment through circulars from time to time, stressing that hitting students using the hands was prohibited as it could lead to unwanted implications and even legal action.