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In the video recording of an online class, the lecturer is seen admonishing a student – whose face is not displayed on screen – as he is using a smartphone for his online lesson.
When asked why he didn’t have a laptop, the student replied that his father had no job and that his mother was “not around anymore”.
Watch the video here.
“If you have a sister and she has a gold bracelet, tell her to sell that and buy you a computer. You can’t learn properly because you have no computer,” the lecturer scolded him.
“This is the fifth semester and you still don’t have a computer? I would rather just have five pieces of clothes… A computer is very, very important. It’s just RM800, what’s your problem?”
A video of the incident shared on Facebook six hours ago has so far received more than 188,000 views and around 5,400 comments.
“Educated but no manners, and not affected at all when the student said his mother was no longer around and his father has no job,” said one of the commenters. “She could have told him off in a better way.”
“Very rude,” said another Facebook user. “I imagine if that was my child, I would be so sad.”
“Don’t be too comfortable,” said another Facebook user. “Remember, no one wants to have a difficult life. Everyone’s reality is different, so there is no need to insult anyone.”
Some Facebook users said the student should take the incident as a learning experience, with one saying that the lecturer was providing “motivation for those who are positive”.
“I know this lecturer. She is strict and firm, but she really helps her students. I was a weak student whom she helped until I finished my Masters,” said another Facebook user.
In a statement, PKR’s students’ wing urged the university to take disciplinary action against the lecturer, describing her action as “unsympathetic, unethical and unprofessional”.
“Although we feel that the lecturer was scolding the student because it was a necessity to have a laptop for the class, demeaning the student when he said his family could not afford to do so is unacceptable and arrogant,” it said.
A spokesperson for the ministry of higher education said a response would be issued later either by it or the university.
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