We’re just giving refugee children a basic education, says teacher in Rohingya school

PETALING JAYA: Community schools serving Rohingya refugees in Kedah are aimed at ensuring that refugee children receive a basic education, as they have no access to Malaysia’s formal education system, says a teacher in a school here.

The teacher, who wished to be known only as Ayu, said there are 40 pupils aged six to 12 and only two teachers at the school in Tongkang Yard, Alor Setar, according to a Sinar Harian report.

“We teach Bahasa Melayu, English, mathematics, art and Quranic studies. The school’s purpose is to ensure these children receive a basic education and do not spend their time engaging in unproductive activities or loitering,” she was quoted as saying today.

Ayu said the school charges monthly fees of RM100 to RM120 per child to help pay teachers’ salaries and cover the RM500 monthly rent.

She said she has been teaching Rohingya children for 15 years and began managing the Tongkang Yard school in 2023.

The Rohingya community in Malaysia has come under the media spotlight recently, with negative reports about the community, ranging from allegedly illegal schools, settlements and housing projects, misuse of business licences, to hate speech.

The UN refugee agency says there are about 126,000 Rohingya on its register in Malaysia, out of a total of 215,600 registered refugees and asylum-seekers. However, the total Rohingya population is believed to exceed 200,000.

The Rohingya comprise a Muslim population who have fled Myanmar to escape religious persecution. As stateless people, their children are not able to attend schools in the national education system.

Sinar Harian quoted a Malay students association in Kedah, Gabungan Pelajar Melayu Semenanjung, as saying that there are about 70 Rohingya schools in the state, operating from rented premises.

The group’s deputy chairman, Amirul Syahir Musa, questioned the schools’ lack of registration with education authorities, and what was being taught to the pupils.

“We worry that the schools’ syllabuses, the contents of which are unknown, may contain questionable elements,” Sinar Harian quoted him as saying.

“If you want to open a school, you must follow the procedures set by the education ministry,” he said.

Amirul said the association did not intend to deny anyone access to education, but said the law must be followed and syllabus content properly monitored.