MELAKA: Four male students suspected of being involved in a gang-rape case at a secondary school in Alor Gajah here will still be allowed to sit for their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examinations, scheduled to begin on Nov 3, said Fadhlina Sidek.
The Education Minister noted that although the case remains under police investigation, the students’ right to education must be upheld in line with the ministry’s principle of education for all.
"We'll ensure they do not fall behind in their studies even while investigations are ongoing,” she told reporters after a special meeting with Melaka education, higher learning and religious affairs committee chairman Datuk Rahmad Mariman and Melaka police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Dzulkairi Mukhtar at the Melaka Education Department office here on Sunday (Oct 12).
Fadhlina said the female victim remains hospitalised and has not yet been transferred to a protection home, as she continues to receive medical care and psychological counselling.
She said the Education Ministry’s immediate focus is to ensure emotional and psychosocial support for all students and teachers at the affected school, including those sitting for the SPM.
“Counsellors will be deployed to the school to assist teachers and students so that their SPM preparations are not disrupted.
“This is one of the top-performing schools in the state, and we are giving it our full attention,” she added.
Fadhlina said that the meeting also discussed long-term intervention and preventive measures to avoid similar incidents from recurring.
“We discussed how to manage and prevent such cases from happening again.
"Legal action will be left entirely to the police, while the ministry will continue to focus on discipline, emotional well-being and safety within schools,” she said.
Fadhlina also reminded the public to be more sensitive and responsible when addressing cases of sexual crimes involving students, and to respect the laws protecting minors’ personal data.
“The public must understand that this involves minors.
"We have laws that safeguard their identities and personal information," she said.
On Oct 11, local media reported that a Form Three female student at the same school suffered trauma and refused to return to school after she was allegedly raped by two senior students.
The act was reportedly recorded on a mobile phone and witnessed by two other students during the incident, which occurred in a classroom at about 2.50pm on Oct 2.
All the suspects have since been remanded to assist police investigations.
