Despite DNA test, children declared stateless, banned from schooling

A father of three is outraged that his children were declared stateless and are prohibited from continuing with school.

M Vengadeswaran, 44, said the problem arose early last year when the school principal stopped the children from attending classes as they did not have citizenship.

They were told to refer to the Education Department and told to check the status of the children with the National Registration Department (NRD).

Vengadeswaran complied and even did a DNA test to prove the three were his children as their birth certificates did not carry his nor his wife’s name nor were their citizenship mentioned.

“The children were allowed to go to school after I did the test, and made an application to the NRD,” Vengadeswaran told reporters when met at the State Education Department in Penang today.

“However, after five months, the school rejected the children and told them to go home,” he added.

Children upset, want to study hard

The children Suriya,12, Agilandaswari,11 and Thuranayagi,10 were upset over the matter.

“We just want to study hard, let us go back to school,” said Suriya.

Freedom, a newly-minted NGO, is helping Vengadeswaran and his children claim their rights to education.

Its president M Ganeson recalled that Education Ministry secretary-general Khair Mohamad Yusof had said undocumented children have access to school provided one of their parents is a Malaysian.

“If Vengadeswaran’s application continues to be rejected, the matter will be brought to court,” Ganesan said.

The NGO staged a brief rally outside the Penang Education Department and tried to submit a memorandum to state education director Shaari Osman.

Shaari was not available but it is learnt that an appointment with the director has been fixed for this Friday to discuss the matter.- Mkini