PARLIAMENT | Children without proper documents born to parents who are both non-Malaysians can enter private "alternative learning centres" registered with the Education Ministry.
Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh said there are 1,801 children enrolled at 18 such centres located in states including Selangor, Johor, Penang and Kelantan.
"For children who are not eligible to enrol in government schools or government-assisted schools, the Education Ministry on June 22, 2020, passed a policy to allow children who are non-citizens born to parents who are also non-citizens to receive informal education.
"This alternative education is done through (centres run by) agencies and NGOs," Wong said in response to issues raised by MPs debating the Suhakam annual report.
No such centre is operating in Sabah or Sarawak, however, Wong said the ministry's Sekolah Jalinan Bimbingan Kasih set up in Chow Kit in 2013 expanded to Sabah last year, with a condition that at least one parent must be a citizen.
In Sabah, NGOs including Borneo Komrad have also been running the group's Sekolah Alternatif initiative for children without documents or stateless children, mostly from the native Bajau Laut community.
For children without proper documents born to at least one Malaysian parent, Wong reaffirmed the government has allowed enrolment in government schools or government-assisted schools since 2008.
Regulations require the enrolment of such students to be supported by a letter that confirms their status as a child of at least one Malaysian parent. - Mkini
