WITH a monthly fee of RM150, Mon and Christian ethnic refugee children from Myanmar in this country are now able to get education opportunities almost similar to what Malaysian children are getting.

Although the standard of teaching at the Mon Learning Academy in Pudu, Kuala Lumpur, may not be like that in national schools, at least these refugee children are not without education, the academy’s education manager, Nai Wonna, told The Malaysian Insight.

Nai said only four core subjects are taught at the academy by teachers from the same ethnic group.

They are mathematics, languages – English, their native Myanmar language and Malay – science and basic computer skills.

The children study there until the age of 16 before continuing their studies at the school for refugee children nearby.

“Initially, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) provided us with books, but due to insufficient funds, that assistance was discontinued,” Nai said.

“Now, with financial aid from several Buddhist associations in the Klang Valley and Negri Sembilan, we are using quality textbooks.”

Nai said the RM150 fee collection is definitely not sufficient to cover the expenses of all 56 students at the academy, as most of them live there as boarders.

“We provide boarding services because most of the students’ parents work outside the Klang Valley, such as in Perak, Kedah, Pahang and Kelantan, for their livelihood,” he said.

There are five classes in the centre, from kindergarten to Year Four.

At age 17, the students will move to a refugee secondary school in the area.

“Some have succeeded in continuing their studies at private higher education institutions,” Nai said.

But Nai said opportunities for refugee children are somewhat limited as not all institutions accept refugee students.

He said for the refugee children to change theirs and their family’s fate, it is only through formal education.

“That I am certain of,” he said.

Nai said the school has six instructors from Myanmar and three local volunteer teachers who assist the school for free.

Apart from the constant lack of funds to run the academy, Nai said the academy also faces the problem of students who are unable to pay the fees due to their parents being detained by the authorities.

In such cases, he said, their education and boarding will be free.

He said despite receiving financial assistance from several associations, the centre still requires some basic needs such as computers and science experiment materials.

Nai said it is the hope of everyone at the academy that refugee children would be given the opportunity to study in Malaysian government schools with minimal fees to ensure they receive quality formal education for their future.

Class suspended

Financial constraints too had forced another Rohingya ethnic school in Ampang, Selangor, to suspend its free tahfiz classes.

There were 25 students in the class.

Teacher Anwar Shah Mohammad Siddiq, a Rohingya himself, said after the Covid-19 pandemic, Darul Eslah Rohingya Academy faced all kinds of financial difficulties, including payments for its rent and teachers’ salaries.

“We operate solely on donations. We try to avoid collecting fees from students as we know they can’t afford them,” he said.

“It is because their parents only work informally in the country.”

Despite being cash-strapped, Anwar said the school still provides breakfast and lunch for all the students.

That, he said, is made possible with the help of donations.

Darul Eslah Rohingya Academy does not get any assistance from UNHCR, he said.

Its 107 Rohingya students attend both morning and afternoon classes.

“This school was started in 2007 in a rented terrace house, and thanks to generous donations, it was renovated to expand the areas for learning.

“We are still persevering because we are inspired by the determination of the students to learn, even though their future in this country remains uncertain,” he said.

“Our only hope is that these children are given the opportunity to receive formal education in Malaysian government schools. Only formal education can change their future.”

Better future

A survey by The Malaysian Insight found that there are five classrooms in the house.

The subjects taught include English, Malay, Quranic studies and mathematics.

The upper floor of the house is used as a library and art classroom.

There are facilities for ablution, as well as a kitchen and toilets for the use of more than 100 Rohingya students.

Anwar said around 20,000 Rohingya children are living in Malaysia.

In the Ampang area alone, there are 300 children, of which 107 study at Darul Eslah Rohingya Academy, while the rest are divided between religious schools and those sponsored by civil society groups.

What Anwar fears most is that without education, these Rohingya children could end up in crime or get into conflicts with locals.

“These children have no documents, no citizenship, and they are not allowed to continue their education here,” he said.

Anwar said he wants them to emulate the success of students who have graduated from the school.

He said there are former students who have successfully continued their education in countries such as the United States, Canada and Australia. – August 14, 2023.