KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Education department will call in a female teacher to explain her offensive remarks about a boy with disabilities.
State Education director Raisin Saidin said the action was to seek an explanation from her about the incident which has gone viral.
The boy's father discovered the disrespectful comments about his son when the teacher mistakenly shared the remarks and a photo of Fezan Ray's son, referred to as "anak bongkok", in a parent-teacher WhatsApp group.
The parent, who managed to screenshot and keep her messages, uploaded it on TikTok and it was widely shared among netizens.
"These students, especially those with special needs, should be treated with utmost care.
"The Sabah Education Department takes this matter very seriously. We not compromise with any actions by teachers that contradict the professional ethics of the teaching profession.
"The Sabah Education Department has initiated an investigation into this case and will summon the involved teacher for an explanation," he told the New Straits Times.
Raisin also said that the department has issued a warning to all district education offices, principals, and headmasters to consistently remind teachers not to upload any comments about students, either in the form of TikTok or other social media, that could tarnish the students' dignity.
The father had lodged a complaint to the Education Ministry through an online platform and planned to file a police report against the teacher today.