SHAH ALAM: A total of 200 children rescued from charity homes linked to GISB Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISB) in Selangor will be enrolling in national schools for the first time when the new school term begins on Feb 17.
State Islamic Religious Affairs and Innovation Committee chairman Dr Mohammad Fahmi Ngah said that their registration would be carried out by parents or guardians with a security bond and would be monitored monthly by the Social Welfare Department to ensure compliance with all set conditions.
"These children are deemed ready for schooling following assessments by the Education Ministry on their learning level, as well as faith evaluations conducted by the Selangor Islamic Religious Council and the Selangor Islamic Religious Department,” he said here on Saturday (Feb 8).
He spoke to reporters after handing over schooling aid to the 200 GISB children at an event attended by the state Islamic Religious Council chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof.
In addition to school kits, which include primary and secondary school uniforms, the children also received RM400 each from both the Selangor Islamic Religious Council and the Selangor Islamic Religious Department.
Mohammad Fahmi added that as the next step, the state government would assist approximately 1,000 more GISB children registered with the religious council to enter the school system, ensuring them a better future.
Meanwhile, Abdul Aziz said that all children, along with their parents and guardians, would remain under monitoring for two years, even though the National Security Council’s rehabilitation programme for GISB members concluded on Tuesday (Feb 4).
He added that the religious council remains in close contact with the Islamic Development Department Malaysia (Jakim), the National Security Council, the state religious council, the state religious department and the state government to ensure all former GISB members undergo and comply with the scheduled faith rehabilitation process.
"In this regard, we sincerely hope the community will accept former GISB members who have undergone rehabilitation, particularly the children, so they can integrate into society and lead comfortable lives,” he said. - Bernama