REC plans to provide secondary education to Rohingya children

The Rohingya Education Centre (REC) plans to provide a secondary level education to Rohingya children next year, after five years of providing them a primary level education in Malaysia.

Future Global Network (FGN) Education Project director, Nur Azlina Abdul Aziz said the if the children were given the opportunity to pursue secondary education, they would have the option to sit for open examinations in the country such as the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM).

She said the exam results would enable the children to continue their studies in institutions of higher education in Malaysia or abroad.

"Currently, we are working to find funding to start classes in 2016, involving at least 30 to 50 students," she said at the opening ceremony of REC Kuantan at Jalan Sultan Abdullah here, today.

The centre was opened by Albukhary Foundation advisor Haridan Ismail.

Also present were FGN chairman Ahmad Azam Ab Rahman, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) head of education Niaz Ahmad and REC Kuantan headmaster Amran Talib@Talip.

Nur Azlina said REC Kuantan was the third of its kind after the two in Penang and Selangor, which were opened in 2010 and 2012, respectively.

REC Kuantan, which is managed by FGN, receives funds from Albukhary Foundation and accommodates 130 students of all ages from Kampung Seberang Balok, Kampung Selamat, Kampung Permatang Badak and Kampung Kurnia.