By Olivia Miwil
KOTA KINABALU: A SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha teacher told the inquest into the death of Zara Qairina Mahathir that the school had done its best to nurture students after some pupils claimed its environment was "quite toxic".
Nur Shukriah Mohd Fauzi, the school's discipline teacher, recalled as a witness, said this when questioned by coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan during the proceedings.
Amir asked: "You have been a teacher for eight years. In your opinion, what is the level of discipline among the school's students?"
Shukriah replied that the Puteri group had committed only minor disciplinary offences, not serious ones.
Amir noted that several Form Four students had earlier testified that they faced disciplinary issues since Form One.
He added that most of the child witnesses who testified last month agreed that harsh language was common and that the school environment was "quite toxic."
In response, Shukriah said the school conducts daily activities organised by the discipline and Arabic departments, including Islamic programmes.
"We have done our very best for the children. Every morning, we advise them to respect their friends. I'm just disappointed because when it comes to a child's development, the responsibility shouldn't fall solely on the school.
"This role of educating children belongs to the wider community, especially the parents. The first teacher is the parent, and the first school is the home," she said.
Shukriah added that some students admitted they did not consistently perform dawn prayers at home despite being encouraged to do so at school.
She also told the court that the school's student affairs assistant principal is authorised to cane students for major offences.
Separately, Shukriah denied having any vested interest or intention to protect anyone at the school, including Student A, one of five children charged in connection with Zara's bullying case.
The inquest is set to resume at 2pm.
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