Schools open in 7 Rakhine townships, enrol over 30,000 students

Eain Soe Phyu

Narinjara News, 27 May 2024

The military junta has opened the schools only in seven townships in Arakan State with over 38,000 school enrolments recorded as of 26 May, said the State education officer.

The  junta designated 23 May to 2 June as school enrolment week across Myanmar.

Arakan State education officer U Ba Htwe Sein informed  Narinjara News that more than 38,000 students were  enrolled in seven Rakhine townships namely  Kyaukphyu, Taungup, Manaung, Thandwe, Ann, Gwa and Sittwe.

"We don't have a fixed number. We accept all who enrol. Currently, there are over 30,000 school enrolment  in these seven townships," added the officer.

There is no other plan for students from the remaining 10 townships, where schools cannot be opened, and the schools will be opened in these seven townships.

Since the conflict in 2019, the schools in northern Arakan townships were  temporarily closed. Moreover, the phone and internet lines were also cut off and roads were blocked.

There are over 3,000 basic education schools in Arakan State. Thousands of schools are still closed in the townships of Ponnagyun, Rathedaung, Buthidaung, Maungdaw, Kyauktaw, Minbya, Ramree, Myebon and Pauktaw.

Between 2021 and 2023, the number of students enrolled in Arakan State varied from 300,000 to 500,000, added the education officer.