Refusal to teach English subject: ‘Principal made complaints about English teacher’
Published on: Wednesday, February 21, 2024
By: Cynthia D Baga
According to Nurhaizah, the issue of “Guru Ponteng” in class was an old issue in SMK Taun Gusi and the first year she was at the school, she was already informed about the issue especially about Mr JJ’s attitude.
Kota Kinabalu: The English teacher who was sued for allegedly failing to enter class to teach English subject to students eight years ago in SMK Tau Gusi, had given many reasons for not doing so during the Fulbright ETA programme.
Nurhaizah Ejab who continued her testimony on Tuesday said she received complaints from Ibrahim Jadoon, who was involved in the programme that Mohd Jainal Jamrin (Mr JJ) gave many excuses during the class such as he was busy and involved with outside activities.
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She further said due to JJ’s attitude, he was no longer involved in the programme in 2015.
According to Nurhaizah, the issue of “Guru Ponteng” in class was an old issue in SMK Taun Gusi and the first year she was at the school, she was already informed about the issue especially about Mr JJ’s attitude.
She informed the court that the Panatia English Subject was always mentioned as problematic.
“In 2014, I was appointed as English Subject Head and suddenly appointed to be the mentor of ETA programme.
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“I was worried about the programme because it would involve co-teach in which all the English teachers must enter the class with ETA,” she said.
Nurhaizah was testifying before High Court Judge Datuk Ismail Brahim, in the hearing of the suit filed by plaintiff Siti Nafirah Siman, 23, against Mr JJ, the first defendant, SMK Taun Gusi Principal Suid Hanapi (in his capacity as Principal of SMK Taun Gusi), SMK Taun Gusi, Kota Belud District Education Officer, Sabah Education Director, Director General of Education Malaysia, Minister of Education Malaysia and Government of Malaysia, who were named as second, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eight defendants.
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The plaintiff is seeking among others a declaration that eight defendants are in breach of their statutory duty under the Education Act for failing to ensure that she was taught the English language during the period of February 2015 to Oct 2015 and prepared her for examinations as prescribed under the Education Act.
Counsel Shireen Sikayun defended Siti Nafirah while Senior Federal Counsel Jesseca Daimis and Federal Counsel Mohd Fazriel Fardiansyah Abdul Kadir acted for the defendants.
Counsel Datin Mary Florence Gomez (Sabah Law Society’s Women and Childrens’ Rights Sub-Committee Chairperson) and Yannik Mohd Annuar are holding a watching brief for Suhakam.
Trial will continue on March 7-8 this year.
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