Don't rush to judge teachers who try to discipline pupils - NUTP

The National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) on Friday called on all quarters to respect the role of teachers by giving them a 'little power' to address disciplinary issues among school students.

NUTP secretary Harry Tan Huat Hock said teachers would not punish students arbitrarily and if there were pupils who were punished, it was for their misdeeds.

"Therefore, the NUTP urges all parties not to make the act of disciplining pupils an issue and causing the teachers to be brought to the court as if they are guilty," he said in a statement here, Friday.

He said in addressing student discipline issues, all parties should sit down and seek the solutions together.

Tan also appealed for teachers not to be pressured by outsiders, including the education ministry, police and the public, so that they would not be afraid of carrying out their respective duties and responsibilities.

He said disciplinary problem among students were not new, but today's issues were very much different from the disciplinary problems faced by teachers in the past.

-- BERNAMA