KUCHING: Three children from Ba’ Kelalan have been barred from attending schools as their parents did not submit any applications for their birth certificates or adoption papers.
Its assemblyman Baru Bian said initially five children were stopped from attending school, however, two managed to return after submitting their applications to the National Registration Department (NRD) office.
He said he was informed that there was a set of guidelines for heads of schools to refer to in considering places for such children in their schools.
“Having looked at the guidelines, they are fair in that if the parents can show that they are attempting to obtain documents and papers for their children, these children will be provided with schooling,” he said in a statement today.
“All that is needed is some documents from the NRD to show that an attempt has been made, even if the applications have not been approved, these children can go to school,” he said.
However, another three children were unable to do so, including one adopted child, as their parents had not made any attempts to apply or obtain the relevant documents.
“I understand that the headmistress of the school went personally to the villages to talk to the parents but to no avail because they had not made any attempts to get adoption papers or birth certificates for their children,” he said.
Thus, he urged parents, whose children do not have any birth certification or adoption papers to visit the nearest NRD office, without any delay.
“It is the responsibility of every parent to submit their applications for birth certificates or adoption for their children to ensure they have access to education.
Baru stressed that being able to read and write was crucial for every child; it was a basic human right for every citizen and to be deprived of it because of the inaction of their parents – would be unfair to the children.
He added that schooling for children without papers remains a problem in Sarawak, which should not be the case in this day and age.
However, he would like to commend the Education Ministry for showing compassion and giving an achievable requirement for parents to be able to enroll their children in school.
