Penang Education Dept probing teacher for alleged abuse of SPM candidate

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Education Department is investigating allegations that a teacher repeatedly slapped, pinched and insulted a Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia candidate.

Its director, Mohamad Dziauddin Mat Saad, said the Education Office at the district the incident had allegedly taken place has been instructed to carry out an investigation and prepare recommendations for further action and resolution.

"The district Education Office met with the student and family this afternoon. The Education Department will also extend its cooperation to the relevant authorities," he said in a statement.

The probe follows a viral social media post by a parent appealing to Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek.

In the post, the parent claimed the child, a student at SMK Penanti in Kubang Semang, was repeatedly slapped, pinched until bruised and humiliated by a teacher simply for failing to score well in the Principles of Accounting subject.

The parent added that the incident caused the student to lose self-confidence, become afraid to attend school and express a reluctance to sit for the SPM examination scheduled to begin next week.

Dziauddin said the department's immediate focus is on providing socioemotional guidance services to the student to help prepare for the upcoming examination.

He also urged all parties to support a safe ecosystem for both students and teachers, particularly as candidates enter the final phase of preparations for SPM 2026.