MOE To Provide Emotional Support To Student In Alleged Sexual Assault Case - Fadhlina

MELAKA, Oct 12 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Education (MOE) will provide emotional support to the Form Three female student who is believed to be the victim of a sexual assault incident at a school here last week.

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the girl is currently receiving treatment at a hospital and is also being given emotional support by medical staff.

“All necessary actions have been taken by the relevant departments, particularly to ensure the protection and well-being of the student,” she told reporters after a meeting with the leadership of the Melaka Education Department and state police here today.

Also present were education director-general Dr Mohd Azam Ahmad, Melaka education department director Mahfudzah Mohamed Noor, and Melaka police chief Datuk Dzulkhairi Mukhtar.

Fadhlina said the ministry is also addressing matters related to discipline and providing emotional support to teachers and students at the school.

“Counsellors will be assigned to provide full support to the school staff and students. We are also giving special attention to teachers handling the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) subjects and students who will be sitting for SPM examination,” she said.

She said the ministry’s immediate priority is to ensure that the affected students and teachers can focus on their SPM preparations without being emotionally disturbed by the incident, adding that the case has been handed over to the police for further legal action.

Commenting on the four male students, Fadhlina said they will still be allowed to sit for the SPM examination, which begins on Nov 3.

“Yes, the SPM examination will begin on Nov 3, and the students involved will still be allowed to sit for it. We will also ensure that they do not fall behind in their studies,” she said.

Yesterday, media reports quoted Dzulkhairi as confirming that four Form Five students were remanded for six days, from yesterday until Oct 16, on suspicion of sexually assaulting a female student at a school here last week.

The incident allegedly took place around 2.50 pm on Oct 2 in a classroom, and the act was recorded using a mobile phone by two of the suspects.

It came to light after the victim’s mother was informed by a teacher about the circulation of the video before lodging a police report.

-- BERNAMA