THE Foreign Ministry (Wisma Putra), with the cooperation of civil society groups and activists, is coming up with a comprehensive status paper to ensure Rohingya refugee children in Malaysia receive a proper education. 

Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said Rohingya children in Alternative Learning Centres (ALCs), run by their own community or civil society groups, should have proper venues and certified teachers. 

“ALCs need to have permanence in terms of school venue… if you rent, it is up to the landlord… whether they like you or not, they may ask you to leave,” he said at a press conference after visiting Rabbaniyah Educare, a school for Rohingya children in Kuala Lumpur, today. 

Wisma Putra’s comprehensive status paper will also identify the need for a proper certification of ALCs and training for the teachers, who are part-timers and volunteers, besides looking at the resources and equipment at schools, which are lacking. 

The minister said other challenges faced by Rohingya children in getting proper education is that their parents do not see the importance of education because they themselves are uneducated.

ALCs are also facing inadequate space for the Rohingya children to receive an education as some of them have to conduct two classes in a single classroom. 

He said there is also a need to look into commuting for Rohingya children who live 15 to 30 minutes away from ALCs.

Saifuddin said there are 48 ALCs in Malaysia set up by civil society groups, which can support the education of only 30% of these children. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Malaysia hosts up to 200,000 Rohingya refugees. – Bernama, September 5, 2022.