Ops against truancy nets 63 in Terengganu

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KUALA TERENGGANU: Terengganu conducted a state-wide operation against truancy yesterday and caught 63 students who skipped school.

State director of Education Zakaria Hussin said 30 of the students were held in the Kemaman district, 22 in Kuala Terengganu, seven in Hulu Terengganu and four in Marang.

Some of the students tested positive for drugs while several others were found to have been smoking, he told Bernama.

Bernama learnt that in Kampung Panji Alam here, several of the students jumped into ditches to escape their pursuers but in vain.

Zakaria said the operation was conducted from 8am to noon and involved manpower from the district education offices, People’s Volunteer Corps, National Anti-Drug Agency, the police and Terengganu Religious Affairs Department.

He said the students would be given counselling and handed over to their parents.

“We have given the schools the mandate to take disciplinary action against the students to make them realise the importance of education,” he said. — Bernama