KUALA TERENGGANU – Thirty-one secondary school students, including three girls were hauled up for playing truant by education officers in Kuala Nerus and Marang today.
The students, who made empty houses and surau as their hideouts, hid in the swamps as the officers, who were aided by policemen, National Anti-Drug Agency officers, village development and security committee members, Rela members, teachers and community leaders, closed in.
However, they were caught after a short-lived dash to freedom.
The students, who were in school uniform, gave many excuses for skipping classes and some of them even became rude and shouted at the teachers and Rela members.
The students were assembled at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Ibrahim Fikri, Seberang Takir and given a counselling before their parents were called in to pick them up.
Terengganu education director Razali Daud said the operation, which was carried from 8am to noon, was aimed at motivating truants to attend schools and the department was planning to develop a programme to improve students’ conduct and character. – BERNAMA
