Minister Mahdzir Khalid said this was to ensure students do not drop out of the educational system just because their parents failed to enrol them in school.

“We support the move taken by Kedah Menteri Besar Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah for students with such problems to go to school.

“We allow children, one of whose parent is a Malaysian citizen, to continue schooling until the documentation process is complete.

“It is not fair to punish the children over the mistakes made by their parents,” he told reporters after visiting a flood-affected school, Sekolah Kebangsaan Bukit Tadok, here today.

Present were Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Jailani Johari, who is also Hulu Terengganu MP, and state education director Shafruddin Ali Hussin.

It was reported that seven-year-old Tan Yao Chun was unable to attend school as his Malaysian father did not register his birth with the Malaysian embassy in Thailand.

Tan was born in Hatyai, Thailand, to a Myanmar mother.

In another development, Mahdzir said the ministry was prepared to study the need to build schools with new structures and design in flood-prone areas.

“So far, schools which are often flooded are in four districts, namely Rantau Panjang and Tumpat in Kelantan, as well as Besut and Setiu in Terengganu.

“I was told there are schools which face floods five to seven times a year.

“The district education office has suggested the review of the building design. If there is no land in the school area, we can clear out the lower level and use only the top level,” he said.