Students and parents request MOE to stop racism in schools, especially coming from educators.

Racial bullying by students is unacceptable, let alone by teachers themselves who are supposed to embody the right values.

The recent case of the Ngee Ann Polytechnic Engineering lecturer passing insensitive racism-loaded remarks is only the tip of the iceberg.

Racism is much more rampant in schools, as evident from student accounts pouring in after the incident, and needs to be called out.

Here are instances from anonymous submissions to Wake Up Singapore's #CALLITOUTSG series:

1. A Sikh student was asked to removed her Kara (steel bangle) even though she could not remove it as it was for religious purposes. Hindu friends were asked to remove the red thread they wear on their hand usually tied by a priest after certain prayers. However, other friends from other religions were not asked to remove their amulets.

2.  A student had a parent letter to be excused from school due to Thaipusam. The form teacher was unhappy about it and the next day said to the student "put down your bag stop thinking it's a 'kavadi'".

3. A 35 year-old recalls a teacher saying "u malay like pig. so lazy, always wake up late" in Primary 2. Now when son was late for school during Ramadhan, his teacher said "You were late this morning? Hmph, because of Ramadhan, YOU ALL always late ah".

4. A Hindu relates that as a child, he/she was teased by other kindergarten children for having a bald head as it was shaved as an offering to the Hindu deity. In comparison, hair for cancer was seen as for a good cause.

5. A Malay-Muslim girl from an 'elite' school involved in a police investigation as victim of a sexual assault (by a teacher) was told by a teacher to take down her posts of herself in 'revealing clothing' as "this won't be a good look on you to the police". Another teacher gave her a lecture of how "as a Muslim, you should practice what you preach" without regard for her own religious choices.

Our schools should be a safe place, not a place where racism is spread by teachers and students alike.

Our teachers should be trusted to stem racism, not fan the flames of it.

Our students should not be scarred for life by discrimination they face in the very institutions they are supposed to enjoy learning.

MOE should look into the matter and take concrete action in schools without further delay.