FROM BORNEO POST

‘Caning has no long-term psychological effects’ By Peter Boon
Caning aimed at educating and guiding students: Ghani
SIBU: Caning students in schools will not have any psychological effects on them in the long run, said Sarawak Teachers’ Union (STU) president William Ghani Bina yesterday.
“This is because it is aimed at educating them and guiding them to the proper path. We cane students because we want them to learn the right things, and not all cases warrant caning to begin with.
“The crux of the matter is that caning is not meant to punish. Therefore, it is important for us to look at it in a more holistic manner,” Ghani told.
The Borneo Post when asked for his views on recent comments made by Samariang assemblywoman Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman that caning can be re-introduced as punishment in cases of extreme disciplinary problems in school.
“Before caning, we ask students what wrong they have done to deserve the punishment. For the benefit of the doubt, we want to hear their side of the story.
“Conversely, caning them straightway without communicating with them will not do them
much good. After all, the whole purpose of meting out the punishment is to give them direction rather than to punish.
“You don’t cane your children and ask them questions later, do you?” he asked.
Ghani said in more serious cases, students would be asked to go for counselling after being caned to make sure that they understand why they were punished and to deter them from repeating the mistakes.
Speaking from years of experience in the teaching profession, he said it is important to give the young as much guidance as possible to allow them to get a proper headstart in life.
He believes that counselling is important to provide students with the necessary mental conditioning to stay away from negative influences or bad peer pressure.
He, however, said that in some cases, there is no better alternative to caning students to reinforce their education.
How many times can caning be done, and how often? Ghani said it should be limited to only three times a day.
“And only authorised persons can administer it. These are principals or headmasters. Disciplinary teachers may do it too but with written approval from principals or headmasters,” he said, adding that the approval is normally given on a year-to-year basis.
He pointed out that the blow is on the palm of the hand only. If it is on the buttocks, the student must have his or her uniform on.
Contrary to what many people believe, caning, in fact, is already in place in school, and according to Ghani its use depends on the severity of wrongdoings.
Additionally, some offenders might require counselling while others could be suspended from school.
In more serious cases, the offender might even be expelled.
Turning to the parents, Ghani said they have crucial roles in the education of their children and leading or guiding them to the correct path in life.
As such, he urged parents to cooperate and be forthcoming when asked to meet school authorities to deal with matters related to their children’s discipline.
“This is for the benefit of all parties involved particularly their children.
“We hope to update parents on their children’s performance and behavioural patterns,” he stressed.
Yesterday, Samariang assemblywoman Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman was reported to have said that caning-in-education was effective in the past and that if it was carried out properly it could still be an effective disciplinary tool today.

Condolence To Mr tony anak Uncho Of SMK Serian

With deepest sympathy to Mr. Tony anak Uncho and family on the lost of his beloved father-in-law the late Dio anak Bujang recently. May his soul rest in peace.

From STU Samarahan Division.

bullying case

Probe deeper into alleged bullying case: STU

Borneo Post 3 March 2009
KUCHING: Sarawak Teachers’ Union (STU) yesterday urged the police to get to the bottom of the alleged student bullying case at a secondary school in Mukah.
Its president William Ghani Bina said bullying was not the practice of learning institutions in the country, and should not be tolerated, adding that a thorough investigation should be carried out for appropriate action to be taken.
According to Ghani, he had discussed the matter with the director-general of the Education Department and was told that the Education Ministry would not tolerate such misbehaviour.
“I’m wondering where the students learn all these (bullying) from, and I feel very sad to see the victim being punched and kicked repeatedly,” he said when contacted.
He hoped both the police and the Education Department would investigate the matter thoroughly to ensure there would be no recurrence of such incidents in the future.
He said he was in Perlis when he knew about the alleged incident from TV news.
Ghani, who is Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Service (Cuepacs), Sarawak branch chairman said it was unfortunate that such an incident (if true) had happened because there were many uniformed bodies as well as non-uniformed bodies in schools, apart from the teachers who instilled discipline among students.
Describing the incident as “more of a mob attack”, he stressed that more often undisciplined students were the ones who were not members of clubs or bodies in schools.
He said the onus to discipline students was on the parents themselves, adding that parents should regard their children as a gift from God, and as such treat them accordingly.
Meanwhile, a man from Sarikei, who identified himself as Mayau, called The Borneo Post office here to specifically express his anger over the incident.
He said the incident was causing fear and anxiety among parents.
He said the culprits in the alleged incident should be dismissed from school.
“The culprits should not be given a second chance and should be dismissed from school immediately,” he added.
He also expressed dissatisfaction over “the slow reaction of the police in Dalat and the state Education Department” in investigating the matter.
He noted that a police report was lodged on Feb 23, but the police only recorded a statement from the suspects yesterday.
The man also believed that the state Education Department was slow in reacting adding: “It seems that the department is trying to sweep the matter under the carpet.”
On Saturday, state Education Department director Dr Julaihi Bujang said the department had yet to receive any official report from the school concerned, but added that the department would carry out separate investigations on the students i nvolved.
The alleged incident which was uploaded into YouTube website since Feb 20 had upset many people, including Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department Datin Fatimah Abdullah, who said she was saddened by the whole incident.
She feared that if the problem of the students were not addressed now, they could bring their “mob culture” which could have far-reaching impact on society.
Education director general Datuk Alimuddin Mohd Dom in a statement issued in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, when reacting on the incident said he was very serious on the matter and would not hesitate to take appropriate action against anyone be they students or school authorities.

Utusan Borneo: 28.02.1009
Kes buli pelajar tersebar 10 pelajar sebuah sekolah menengah di Dalat disyaki terbabit dalam kes buli pelajar tingkatan 3 yang disebarkan dalam internet
MUKAH: Kes buli seorang pelajar tingkatan tiga di sebuah sekolah menengah ber-asrama di sini yang dibelasah oleh sekumpulan pelajar lain dari sekolah sama, menggemparkan penduduk di sini selepas klip video yang merakamkan kejadian itu disebar dan disiarkan dalam internet.
Insiden buli itu terbongkar dalam klip video selama 3.05 minit itu disiarkan menerusi laman web You Tube sejak kelmarin dan menyaksikan pelajar terbabit yang masih berpakaian seragam sekolah, dibelasah oleh sekumpulan pelajar lelaki dalam sebuah bilik asrama pelajar.
Dalam klip video berkenaan mangsa disepak, diterajang dan dipukul termasuk menggunakan cerek air. Walaupun mangsa cuba merayu namun tidak dipedulikan malah terus dibelasah tanpa belas kasihan. Kejadian dipercayai berlaku di bahagian ini dan perbualan yang terakam dalam video berkenaan menggunakan bahasa tempatan yang kurang jelas.
Malah laporan polis sudah pun dibuat oleh pelajar terbabit yang berasal dari Kampung Penat, Oya, bersama ibu bapanya di Balai Polis Dalat di sini pada jam 12 tengah hari, 23 Februari lalu.
Sementara itu, Ketua Polis Daerah Dalat, DSP Martin Khoo ketika dihubungi Utusan Borneo semalam mengesahkan menerima laporan berhubung kejadian tersebut yang dipercayai berlaku pada minggu lepas.
Katanya, polis memandang serius kes dan penyebaran video klip berkenaan sambil menyifatkan ia sebagai satu tindakan yang tidak wajar dilakukan oleh individu yang masih bergelar pelajar.
Martin berkata, kes dikategorikan di bawah Seksyen 323, Kanun Keseksaan dengan se-ngaja mendatangkan kecede-raan. Seramai 10 suspek yang terdiri daripada pelajar tingkatan 6 disyaki terlibat dalam kes buli tersebut.
Beliau memberitahu, kes itu diserahkan kepada Jabatan Peguam Negara sebelum diambil tindakan susulan.
“Kita masih menunggu keputusan Jabatan Peguam Negara dan akan bertindak secepat mungkin. Setakat ini, belum ada tangkapan namun saya ingin menegaskan, me-reka yang terlibat sama sekali tidak akan terlepas.
“Kita tidak memandang remeh kes seperti ini. Saya juga ingin mengingatkan orang ramai, jangan menyebarkan sebarang spekulasi sehingga proses siasatan selesai,” katanya.
Ini merupakan kes buli pelajar yang pertama dilaporkan di negeri ini dalam tahun ini.
Sementara itu, Jabatan Pendidikan Mukah ketika diminta mengulas berhubung kejadian enggan memberikan sebarang komen.
Kata Pengetua:
1. Perkara begini boleh berlaku bila-bila masa. Selagi ianya tidak melibatkan kecederaan disebabkan oleh guru / warden, sekolah mudah memberi laporan. Dalam kes begini perkara yang akan ditanya ialah:

i. Adakah sekolah menyembunyikan kes?

ii. Peraturan asrama? Ada / tidak perhimpunan asrama? Ada / tidak perkara buli disentuh? Jadual lawatan warden ke asrama?

ii. Bagaimana kes disiplin ditangani? Apa SOP (standard operating procedure) bila kes begini berlaku?

iii. Kenapa warden tidak tahu awal? Dalam kes di atas, kes itu diketahui oleh kontinjen polis di Kuching (yang monitor internet) yang tahu awal dan melapor kepada PPS. Oleh itu, para warden harus sentiasa "memasang" telinga dan mengambil tindakan awal.

2. Dasar sekolah ialah, jika ada pelajar yang merasa dirinya jadi mangsa / cedera / berdarah - sekolah bantu pelajar untuk membuat laporan polis (kecuali ibu bapa membantah, dan secara bertulis). Dengan laporan tersebut, mangsa boleh mengambil tindakan selanjutnya. Jika dia tidak mengambil tindakan selanjutnya, itu adalah pilihannya.

3. Satu lagi dasar sekolah ialah, saya tidak akan menyembunyikan masalah begini semata-mata untuk menjaga nama baik sekolah. Tetapi, sekolah tidak juga minat untuk mengorek masalah. (contoh mengorek masalah: kalau kita suspect seseorang pelajar perempuan itu mewarnakan rambut, kita tidak perlulah meminta pelajar tersebut membuka tudungnya. Walau bagiamanapun, tindakan boleh diambil jika dia mewarnakan rambut dan membuka tudung.)-- Thank you. Wishing you a prosperous day.