He later found out that he was never enrolled because his parents did not want him to be 'contaminated' by the teachings in secular schools, he said.

While children his age were studying, Zul and his younger brother played at East Coast beach where they stayed in a tent. It was only at the age of 13 that he received free education courtesy of a self-help group.

'I was so frustrated that my parents never sent me to school. Now I'm so much behind in my studies,' said Zul, now 16, in Malay. He is not conversant in English.

Recently, the Ministry of Education (MOE) said that 1,483 children did not register for Primary 1 this year by the given deadline.

After reminders, the parents of all but 152 children subsequently signed up. Of the 152, 150 were later found to be residing overseas. That leaves two unregistered children whose whereabouts are unknown.

The latest number is a slight drop from that six years ago, when schooling was made mandatory under a new Compulsory Education Act. That year, 1,973 children were not registered by the stipulated deadline.

All children born after 1996 are required to have at least six years of schooling.

Anyone who fails to ensure that his child attends school may face a maximum fine of $5,000 or one year in jail, or both.

Each year, MOE matches those who have registered for Primary 1, and those exempted from the system, against birth records. It then writes to the parents of non-registered children inquiring about schooling arrangements.

Read the full story in today's edition of The Straits Times.