Thinzar Nwe, Narinjara News, 1 October 2024

Despite the heavy fighting that broke out near Anntown of  Arakan State, the township education officer pressurizes theteachers to hold the first semester examinations.

Elementary, middle and high school students arerequired to sit for exams in basic education schools starting on 5 October,while residents in the urban areas are desperately seeking refuge from theintense fighting, artillery fire and aerial bombardments, said a lady.

“The teachers informed the parents that the firstsemester examinations may  be the final exams and urged the students toparticipate. I don’t know when the fighting will take place in the urban areastoo. So I will ask them to sit for exams understanding the situation,” sheadded.

A female education staff member in Ann said thatalthough teachers are worried about the ongoing fighting, the townshipeducation officer compelled them to conduct the first semester examinations.

“The government employees in the urban areas of Annwill not be allowed to flee the conflict and the first semester exams will beconducted as planned. However, we are concerned as we hear the sound of weaponsevery day. We also worry about the students. If anything happens, who will beresponsible for that,” she stated.

Narinjara News is trying to contact the Ann educationofficer for the authentication.

The residents reported that fighting had intensifiedsince the last week of September near Kyauk Sa Kwe, Mee Laung Chaung and YatThar villages, which are about 7 miles away from Ann town. The  situationcompelled some residents to flee to Minbu and other urban areas.

On 1 October morning, the 371st light infantrybattalion, the closest battalion to Ann, began firing artillery shells,informed a lady.

Similarly, on 30 September the battalion in Ann urbanareas fired artillery shells for the whole day. The residents reported thatthey heard the sound of fighter jets dropping bombs at 5 and 9:30 pm.