Its president, Dr Ikram Ilias said every child should have access to education and healthcare, which are vital for their well-being and future prospects.
“Refugee children often face immense challenges, having been displaced from their homes due to conflict or persecution,” he said in a statement.
“They arrive in Malaysia seeking safety and stability, yet many are deprived of basic rights, including education and healthcare, thus hindering their development and future opportunities.”
Ikram added that integrating these underprivileged children into the education system not only fulfils a moral duty but also enriches society with diverse perspectives and talents.
“Education empowers children to break the cycle of poverty, equipping them with the skills to contribute meaningfully to society.”
On Friday, the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) called on all sectors to collaborate in integrating refugee children into the national education system.
Azlina Kamal, a Unicef education specialist, said refugee children should be allowed to follow a formal, recognised curriculum instead of being limited to unofficial parallel schools or learning centres.
She said only 34% of 41,000 school-age refugee and asylum-seeker children registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Malaysia have access to informal education through learning centres established by refugee communities, NGOs and faith-based organisations.
Azlina also said although refugee children can attend private schools, the cost is prohibitive, especially for those without access to legal employment.
In June last year, the education ministry began considering amendments to school admission regulations to ensure all children, including non-citizens and the undocumented, have access to education.
Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the proposed changes to the Education Regulations (Admission of Pupils to School, Register Keeping, and Conditions for Retaining Pupils at School) 1998 would apply to admissions to government and government-aided schools.