Opening our schools is not a refugee policy


UNHCR says there are about 160 refugee learning centres in Peninsular Malaysia, supported through partnerships. — Filepic/AFP

IT’S a bad idea for Malaysia to open government schools to refugees. The reasons are simple: Our classrooms are already crowded, teachers are overworked, and the cost of running schools continues to rise as we grapple with limited resources and quality of education.

While it is difficult to argue against educating refugee children, opening our national school system to them could create more problems than it solves.

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Wong Chun Wai , On the beat column
Wong Chun Wai

Wong Chun Wai

Wong Chun Wai began his career as a journalist in Penang and served Star Media Group for nearly four decades in various capacities and roles. He was group editorial and corporate affairs adviser to the group, after having served as group managing director/chief executive officer. "On The Beat" debuted on Feb 23, 1997. Chun Wai has penned the column weekly without a break, except for occasional press holidays when the paper was not published. In May 2011, a compilation of selected articles of On The Beat was published as a book and launched in conjunction with his 50th birthday. Chun Wai also comments on current issues in The Star. He is now chairman of national news agency Bernama.

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