KOTA KINABALU: It is work as usual for a Principal who allegedly sent lewd messages to his students in Telipok.
State Education and Innovation Minister, Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob, said they cannot jump to conclusions or make assumptions based on allegations alone.
He assured that a detailed probe is being carried out by the Education Department’s action committee, besides police.
The alleged incident came to light when a parent claimed that her 14-year-old son was among recipients of such text messages from the principal who is in his early 50s. The parents claimed that no action had been taken despite reports lodged earlier this month. The Principal was said to have been texting male students over the past couple of months, starting with innocent questions before getting more intimate in the messages. He was also alleged to have offered them gifts if they did well in their exams and to bring them out for movies and dinner.
“This is a serious allegation which should be handled thoroughly, I don’t want to make any assumption,” said Dr Yusof. He noted that there are many cases involving schools reported across the country, adding that stern action has and will be taken against those found guilty. Some of the stern action even included expelling those responsible from their service, he said.
“Let this be a reminder to all educators not to exploit students as doing so will put the education system at jeopardy,” he said.
“They are supposed to be responsible for their students’ safety, parents put their trust on them as educators,” he added.
This is the third known case reported within a week involving school students in Sabah. On Friday, seven Form Five students of a secondary school in Tawau were remanded over the alleged gang rape a female student, 14, of the same school.
Also on Friday, a primary one pupil was mauled by dogs as she was going home from school in Ranau. She is warded in hospital and the mother of the victim claimed that the dogs belonged to a teacher at the school who ignored their repeated complaints.
