The government will ensure that stateless children are given education in line with the principles of ensuring education for all children irrespective of religion, race or location, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said.

Muhyiddin, who is the education minister, said the ministry carried out various programmes to ensure stateless children had access to education.

"To date, the ministry has partnered with agencies such as the Federal Special Task Force to organise Kafa classes, as well as the Armed Forces, through its community service in Pulau Berhala, Sandakan.

"We also collaborate with the Yayasan Guru Malaysia Berhad and Unicef," he told the Dewan Negara today.

He said the programme would be expanded and that he hoped that government agencies and the private sector would assist in providing education to these children.

He was replying to senator Noriah Mahat who wanted to know the government's policy on the education of stateless children.

Muhyiddin said stateless children - children who are not Malaysian citizens and are without documents - would be given an alternative education but it would not be along the lines of a formal education as stipulated in the national education system.

"The alternative education will give emphasis on the ability to read, write and count as well as civic education and providing them with certain skills," he said.

He also welcomed any initiative by government agencies, the private sector, non-governmental organisations and individuals in providing these children with education.

However, this should be monitored to ensure they were in line with the national education philosophy, he said.

"I am of the view that the time has come for the Education Ministry to act as a coordinator so that education programmes can be streamlined and the love for the country which gives them protection, can be nurtured among these children," he said.

For children who are citizens of the country but are without documents, Muhyiddin said, they can be accepted in government school as long as they fulfilled the condition that one of their parents is a Malaysian.

However, this should be endorsed by a community leader such as a village chief, he said.

- Bernama