Students welcome move but not parents

KUALA LUMPUR: While students welcome the Education Ministry’s move to have complaint boxes in all schools to check misconduct, parents have voiced their reservations.

A Form Five student known only as Amin said it “gives an opportunity to every student to speak up”.

“Some students may not be brave enough to speak to teachers.

“I believe teachers would take the effort to read the notes and see what would be the best course of action,” he said.

He feels there is no harm in submitting complaints written on paper in this age of social media.

“Students abuse technology too often. For example, if we lodge a complaint via WhatsApp, we are vulnerable to hate messages, which might become viral,” he added.

Sharing Amin’s sentiments is fellow fifth former Emily, who agreed that the digital platform is not a secure medium.

“If students use these platforms, their identity could be exposed. Dropping letters in a complaint box allows the complainant to remain anonymous,” she said.

However, Samuel Yesuiah, a teacher trainer in Seremban, questioned whether the ministry or schools are ready for the onslaught of complaints.

“And will there be a standard procedure to solve them, and who will be the ones sorting them out?” he asked.

Malacca Action Group for Parents in Education (Magpie) chairman Mak Chee Kin, too, was not in favour of the move.

“It may seem like a selfish thought, but we send our children to school to seek knowledge, not to get themselves involved in other students’ issues or misconduct.

“I want my children to study hard and mind their own business,” he said.