Period spot checks: ‘Tell me at which school, ’ says Education Minister

PUTRAJAYA (Bernama): The Education Ministry (MOE) will take action if there are complete details on the alleged practice of “period spot checks”, says Datuk Dr Mohd Radzi Md Jidin.

"If it happens, tell me at which school, so action can be taken," said the Education Minister on Monday (April 26).

He was asked to comment on the alleged physical checks on female students to prove that they are menstruating and not use it as an excuse to escape fasting and prayers.

Radzi said the MOE is investigating if such incidents are taking place at boarding schools under the ministry.

However, he said so far, there was no indication that such practice existed.

Citing a recent case involving SMK Dato’ Bentara Luar in Batu Pahat, Johor that was found to segregate co-curricular activities based on the race and gender of its students, Radzi said the MOE had conducted an investigation on the matter and found that it did happen.

He said a statement had been issued to address the matter.

"But for that (period spot check) issue, we're checking ‘one by one’, we've asked all divisions and the answer was no (such practices existed)," he said.

It was reported that several students alleged that period spot checks had been a practice in schools for 20 years.

On a video that went viral on the Tik Tok application where a female student claimed her physical education teacher suggested that students should rape someone above 18, Radzi said the teacher was out of line.

"It has become a police case, we do not want to talk much about it. But the act should not have happened, all of us do not agree as it involves the manners and integrity of our children," he said. - Bernama