No. 1 high school in Sittwe to be moved to new building

By Admin 06 May 2023

DMG Newsroom
6 May 2023, Sittwe

The No. 1 Basic Education High School in the Arakan State capital Sittwe will be moved to a new three-storey building in the compound of the old Sittwe University.

Construction of the new school building has already been completed and the desks and school furniture are being moved to the new facility, said U Myint Naing, headmaster of No. 1 BEHS.

“The old high school has a small school area, so there is no place for the children to play. The new school has a large school area and sports fields, so it will be convenient for the children,” he added.

Students from Grade 6 to Grade 12 will be taught at the new school, and new students will be accepted depending on the number of students.

The old school, which is located near the Mayu Road in Ballon Kwin Ward in Sittwe, will be moved to a new location because the school grounds are narrow and close to the main road.

“I am glad that the school will be moved to a new place. But since the new school is far away from home, there is a little difficulty in getting the children to and from school,” said Daw Khaing Thin Aye, parent of a student in Sittwe’s Balloon Kwin Ward.

The former Sittwe University in Kyaung Gyi Lan Ward was renovated in 2018 to open as No.1 BEHS, but it was designated as a dangerous building and could not be used as a high school.

A new school facility was built in the compound of the old Sittwe University to accommodate students from No. 1 BEHS.

The new school building is 140 feet long and 30 feet wide, has 12 classrooms, and was built at a cost of K5.8 billion. Two more school buildings and a playground will be constructed, according to the Arakan State education officer’s office.

U Ba Htwee Sein, Arakan State Education Officer, said that the old school building will be handed over to the Ministry of Education and it is not yet known what sector the old school building will be used for.

“I still don’t know how the old school building will be used. Although the students were transferred to the new school, I think half of them will remain in the old school,” he added.

The old Sittwe University was the first public high school opened in 1846. After Myanmar gained independence in 1948, the Sittwe High School was gradually promoted to a college, regional college, Degree College and a university.