KUALA LUMPUR: Teachers who have a record of misconduct such as absenteeism should be shown the door instead of being allowed to destroy the children's future, says Parent Action Group for Education (PAGE).
PAGE chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim said the onus is on the government to be strict when it comes to problematic teachers.
She was commenting on a landmark court case today, where three former students from Sabah won a legal suit against their English language teacher who had failed to show up for class for seven months in 2017.
The three students brought their former teacher and four others to court for violating their constitutional rights to access education when they were in Form Four Sports Science (4SS) at SMK Taun Gusi, Kota Belud six years ago.
Noor Azimah said although the win is seen as a positive move for the education system as a whole, the government must review and tighten the exit policy for teachers with misconduct.
"School administrators are always siding with teachers. As in this case, it is evident that the absent teachers are a waste of taxpayers money.
"Had the students given up midway, it would have come to nought. Defendants with deep pockets always have the upper hand.
"For teachers, there is always next year. For students, they leave the system carrying with them what they learnt or didn't," she told the New Straits Times.
She said thanks to this case, incompetent teachers would now think twice about slacking in their role as educators.
She added that the teachers involved in the case should be fired without a pension, and not be transferred to another school or even remain in the same school.
"There are many good teachers but there are also the bad ones too who take advantage of students.
"Parents are more assured now that a precedent has been set."