Politics · Malaysia Bureau
Sarawak allows stateless children school access if parent is Malaysian
Children without Malaysian citizenship can attend government schools in Sarawak if at least one parent holds Malaysian citizenship, according to the state's education minister. The clarification addresses concerns about educational access for children in mixed-status households.
LSN Malaysia ·
KUCHING: Sarawak has clarified that children lacking Malaysian citizenship remain eligible to enrol in government schools provided one parent is a Malaysian citizen, the state's education minister confirmed here on Monday. The policy aims to ensure educational continuity for children in families with mixed citizenship status, particularly in border regions where such situations are not uncommon. The minister's statement addresses longstanding questions about school admissions procedures and documentation requirements for non-citizen children. Education officials in Sarawak emphasised that parental citizenship status, rather than the child's own nationality, serves as the determining factor for school eligibility. The announcement underscores the state's commitment to providing basic education access across its population, regardless of citizenship complications that may take time to resolve through official channels.