KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Education Department urges schools to step up security to prevent indecent activities among schoolchildren.
This came after police remanded seven SPM candidates, two days ago, to facilitate investigation over an alleged rape case involving a 14-year-old girl at a school in Tawau.
State education director Dr Mistrine Radin expressed sadness that the incident allegedly happened within school compound, stressing the department will cooperate with the police in handling the case.
"I hope security guards carry out their duties and carry out patrols within the school premises as stated in their contract to prevent such incidents from happening again.
"Schools must also improve prevention by locking all rooms that are at risk of being misused by students," she said.
The arrest of the seven was made on Friday, the same day a police report was lodged against them.
It was reported that the alleged rape took place at about 11am when the Form Two victim was found half naked in a switchroom by a teacher.
The teenager told the teacher that she was raped by two boys, while four others had forced her to perform oral sex. Another observed the act.
Mistrine said the department officials would be in touch with the police station where the students were being remanded in custody.
"They can still sit for their SPM papers while in remand," she said.