KOTA KINABALU: Former English teacher Mohd Jainal Jamran who was absent from SMK Taun Gusi in Kota Belud for a long time often humiliated his students, the High Court heard today.
This was disclosed by the school's English teaching assistant (ETA) in the trial of a suit brought by the school's former student, Siti Nafirah Siman, against her former teacher, Jainal.
Ibrahim Jadoon, who co-taught at the school from 2014 to 2015, said he often reminded Jainal that it would be a breach of ETA regulations for the latter if he did not teach the class together.
He added that ETAs were usually assigned to rural secondary public schools ranked Band 5 or Band 6, indicating low English performance.
"In 2014 I worked closely with Jainal. Unlike other English teachers, Jainal had no sense of responsibility towards his students.
"Jainal was often absent without remorse and rarely planned a co-teach lesson plan. Jainal also was known for his frequent temper and would humiliate his students for their (standard of) English," he said, adding that Jainal had also said he did not like some of the students.
In February 2015, Ibrahim said he also heard Jainal loudly complain when he was assigned to class 4PD as he claimed the students were badly behaved and it was a waste of his time to teach them.
The 14th witness was testifying under examination-in-chief by counsel Shireen Sikayun before judge Datuk Ismail Brahim.
Ibrahim said, after the plaintiff had filed a complaint against Jainal for absenteeism in 2015, he had informed the matter to his ETA mentor, a female teacher who was head of the English Language committee.
The female teacher told Ibrahim that "guru ponteng" (absentee teachers) had been an open secret at SMK Taun Gusi for a long time and there was a culture of fear in discussing what was deemed a sensitive topic due to Jainal's temper.
"The (then) school principal Suid Hanapi did not take any action (and in doing so) allowed the scandal (to go on) and protected these 'guru ponteng', including Jainal.
"The Kota Belud district is one of the poorest districts in Malaysia. SMK Taun Gusi, in my two years (of teaching there), was seen to have significant academic problems and significant instances of teacher absenteeism.
"I noted that many students desperately wanted a strong education to escape the cycle of poverty. It was because of these students that I returned for a second year."
In the suit filed on Oct 30, 2018, Siti Nafirah had named Jainal as the first defendant. The other defendants are Suid, the Kota Belud district education officer, Sabah education director, education director-general, education minister and the government.
Federal Counsel Mohd Fazriel Fardiansyah Abdul Kadir acted for the defendants.
The trial continues.