GEORGE TOWN: The relief teacher accused of uttering derogatory words to students in SMK Georgetown has asked for a transfer, citing stress of having to face the Form Five students who complained against her.
The young pregnant teacher has since apologised thrice to the students, parents and an to the investigating board. However, it was not for the usage of the words Hindu Pariah but for the word "India".
State Education Department director Ahmad Tarmizi Kamaruddin said the teacher, in her mid 20s, told him she could not handle the stress of being in that school and asked for an early transfer.
The teacher also lodged a police report yesterday claiming to have only used the words "India" and not as alleged by 15 students, he said.
Resulting from this, the investigation was almost complete because the teacher had apologised and clarified the students' allegations.
"We don't intend to take further action on her because she has apologised publicly for imposing demerit points and for using the word "India".
She said she imposed the high points because the students challenged her.
"She told the investigators that the classroom became noisy due to a group of students after the exam ended.
She allegedly addressed the noisy group by saying 'Apasal India bising banyak ini?' (Why are these Indians very noisy?)
"The parents of the children accepted her apology.
Therefore, we don't see the reason to keep the open for too long," said Ahmad Tarmizi.
However, he said the department would continue invesitgations into the allegations made by a group of Indian NGOs following the submission of a memorandum yesterday.
He said although the matter had been "amicably resolved" by the investigating team and the school, the NGOs have manipulated the issue, compelling investigations to continue.
On Tuesday, a group eight NGOs, led by Klinik Derma Sivasanta co-ordinator P. Murugiah, expressed disappointment over the history teacher's utterance.
They also questioned the teacher's motive in imposing high demerit points, which could amount to expulsion of the students based on their race and religion.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Tarmizi said the department would also ask the school to review its demerit system which varied between schools.
"The imposition of between 15 and 25 points on students is serious but the teacher said she was not aware of the repercussions because such system was not practised in Johor, where she came from.
"Often, students who misbehave received demerit points of between five and eight but 25 was too high. We have asked the school to review that," he said.