Malaysia: children made to clean toilets

Non-Muslim Children made to clean toilets in Johor School, Southern Malaysian State

Children made to clean toilets
BY GLADYS TAY
gladys@thestar.com.my

JOHOR BARU: Angry parents held a meeting with a school in Taman Daya after their Year Six children were asked to clean the toilets on Friday.

They lodged a police report on the matter on Saturday, prompting the state Education Department to intervene.

Department director Mokhy Saidon together with the headmistress, teachers, and parents of the 20 pupils held a meeting at the school yesterday, with policemen on standby to ensure order.

Special session: Darshiney answering questions asked by Mokhy (sitting) during the meeting at the school in Johor Baru.

During the two-hour meeting, headmistress Siti Latifah Adnan explained that the toilet-cleaning activity was part of a cleanliness competition organised by the Johor Baru City Council.

The school even showed photos taken during the one-hour activity to convince the parents that the activity was not targeted at just a group of pupils. The parents refused to accept the explanation.

After the meeting, a teacher involved in the activity broke down and cried hysterically saying that she loved the children.

Other teachers consoled her and took her out of the meeting room.

Parent M. Anbalagan said instead of studying, his son and a group of other Year 6 pupils were washing toilets.

“This is an important year for the pupils and they should be revising for their UPSR,” he said.

B. Darshiney, 12, said the activity took place during the Moral Education period.
“Other students went for their religious class while we went to the toilet,” the girl added.

Mokhy who later met the press said the problem resulted from a misunderstanding among all parties.

SOURCE : http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/1/29/nation/20154320&sec=nation