I WOULD like to voice my frustration regarding the attitude of the headmaster of a secondary school in Ipoh who has been denying Indian students their rights for years.

Year in and year out, he has refused to apply for an additional day off for Deepavali (Monday, Oct 27) although there are more than 500 Indian students in the school.

The headmaster does not seem to think that Indian students need to celebrate the festival with their loved ones.

All my friends and relatives want their children's school to take an extra day off.

My child has to return on Deepavali night from hundreds of kilometres away to attend school the next day.
The headmaster has planned the exams conveniently the day before and after Deepavali so that Indian students will be forced to attend school.

My child told me on Tuesday that his school is only replacing two Saturdays for Hari Raya Puasa and nothing was mentioned about Deepavali.

I was informed by my friends from neighbouring schools that the government has given the green light for schools to take two extra days off after Deepavali, on Oct 28 and Oct 29.

I do hope the authorities concerned will look into this matter immediately.