Four siblings get places in Padang Kala schools

KOTA BAHARU, 3 Feb -- Timbalan Pengarah Jabatan Pendidikan Kelantan Zahari Daud (tengah) menyerahkan surat Penempatan Sekolah di Sekolah Kebangsaan Padang Kala dan Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Padang Kala kepada Aishah, 14, Ammar, 12, Adam, 11, dan Arif, 7 di rumah keluarga di Kampung Wakaf Tok Wali di sini hari ini. Bapa kepada anak-anak tersebut, Azizul Raheem Awalludin yang merupakan pegawai Tourism Malaysia dan ibu mereka, Shalwati Norshal, guru yang bercuti tanpa gaji, masih direman pihak berkuasa Sweden selepas ditahan pada 18 Dis lepas kerana didakwa memukul tangan seorang daripada anak lelaki mereka yang enggan solat. -- fotoBERNAMA (2014) HAKCIPTA TERPELIHARA

KOTA BARU: The four children of Azizul Raheem Awalludin and Shalwati Norshal, who are being detained in Sweden for allegedly hitting one of their sons for not performing his prayers, are expected to start schooling after receiving their placement letters from the state education department.

State deputy director Zahari Daud said Aishah, 14, Ammar, 12, Adam, 11 dan Arif, seven, would be placed at SMK Padang Kala and SK Padang Kala.

The schools are near their aunt and guardian, Shaleena Norshal’s house at Kampung Wakaf Tok Wali, Melur here.

“The department will give an allowance to the children and their relatives to start school at their convenience.

“Should they decide to go to school today, it is also fine with the department as they have received the placement letters,” Zahari told reporters after handing over the letters at Shaleena’s house yesterday.

He also said that all four siblings would receive the early school aid of RM100 and text books.

After a month of limbo and uncertainities following the detention of their parents by the Swedish authorities since Dec 18 last year for allegedly running foul of local laws, the children, through diplomatic negotiations, returned to Malaysia on Saturday to be put under the care of Shaleena.

Zahari added that the department had instructed the schools’ headmasters to give special attention to the children, including counselling, to better enable them to blend into their new environment.

Aishah thanked the department for their assistance to enable her and her siblings to start schooling in Kelantan, adding that they would try their best to get used to their new surroundings.