KUALA LUMPUR – Teachers and students are asked to skip a day of classes as protest against sexual harassment in learning institutions and to stand in solidarity with the #MakeSchoolASaferPlace movement.
Organised by the National School Walkout Day Alliance (NSWD), the protest intends to demand for immediate reform.
“The recent accounts of rape jokes, sexual harassment and period spot checks perpetrated by teachers and wardens have exposed systemic failures – and parents and students are seeking justice,” it said in a statement today.
The lid on these issues blew off after a 17-year-old girl alleged that a teacher made a rape joke in class.
She has been highlighting the matter on social media and was even threatened with rape by another student.
“Despite these revelations, the response by the relevant authorities has been shown on the record to be dismissive,” said NSWD.
“Education Minister Datuk Mohd Radzi Md Jidin has publicly stated that there has been no evidence of period spot checks.
“As such, we have decided to collectively table this protest, mobilising the cause behind #MakeSchoolASaferPlace.
“We demand the people in power to start making institutional changes so that systemic rape culture – whether in the form of normalisation of rape jokes, sexist attitudes, rape threats or victim blaming – and sexual offences are rooted out by providing formidable reporting and response frameworks, as well as ensuring that academic staff are trained to handle these cases with care.”
The alliance, comprising several civil society groups, parents, youth and teachers, are calling for the one-day absence on May 6 or 7.
“These options will allow local communities of students, parents and teachers nationwide to coordinate their own protests safely.”
This walkout draws similarities to the school walkout in the United States on April 20, 2018, to protest against gun violence. – The Vibes, May 1, 2021
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