PARENTS of Penang Free School students who plan to 'balik kampung' for Deepavali are disappointed by the school's decision to hold its final school examinations from Oct 29, two days after Deepavali.

Kpl D. Mohan, a mechanic at the police headquarters, said he would have to rush back to Penang from Kuala Lumpur on the second day of Deepavali, so that his son Dinesh, who is in Form 1 at PFS, would be able to sit for the examination.

He was also disappointed that the school was unable to postpone the examination to a week after Deepavali as he had taken long leave to spend the festive period with his parents in Kuala Lumpur.

Kpl K. Segar, who is based at the Batu Ferringhi police station, said he had applied for 10 days of leave to visit his mother in Teluk Intan, Perak, but would have to cut short his stay so that his son, who is in Form Four, could be back in Penang in time for the examination.

Factory executive R. Sellan whose son is in Form Five said the school was being insensitive to the requests of the the community.

Sellan said he planned to gather other parents so they could collectively lodge complaints with the state Education Department and Education Ministry.

PFS principal Ramli Din when contacted said the setting of the school's final examinations date was the school's prerogative and that Oct 29 was the 'only available and most suitable' date for the school.

"We have complied with the Education Ministry's circular for schools to observe two days of the festive celebration and to hold the final examination either before or after Deepavali, which is exactly what we are doing," he said.

A state Education Department spokesman said the issue was not within the jurisdiction of the department and that the department could not overturn the school's decision.