Cyclone-battered schools struggle in early days of new academic year

By Admin 05 Jun 2023

DMG Newsroom
5 June 2023, Sittwe

Basic education schools were opened across Arakan State on June 1, the official start of the academic year in Myanmar, but students are having difficulties as many of the schools have yet to be repaired after being damaged by Cyclone Mocha last month.

The roofs and walls of basic education schools in rural parts of Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw, Rathedaung and Mrauk-U townships were damaged in the storm.

The roof of the basic education post-primary school in Tuumyaung Village, Kyauktaw Township, was badly damaged by the storm, with roofing sheets left hanging from the ceiling, posing a significant safety hazard.

“The roof of the school was blown off. Students have to learn there. Villagers said they would have a temporary classroom. We would like to urge the government [Myanmar’s military regime] to repair the damaged roof as quickly as possible,” said middle school teacher U Hsan Win from Tuumyaung Village.

The roof and walls of the post-primary school in Lanpikekwin village in Kyauktaw Township also collapsed during the storm.

“The new school has entirely collapsed. Students are learning at the old school. The roof of the old school was also blown off in the storm,” said a parent from Lanpikekwin village.

The roof of the middle school in Shwekyinpyin village in Mrauk-U Township was also blown off, said village administrator U Kyaw Tin.

“Only the school walls were intact, and roofs were blown off the rest of the school,” he said.

Some schools in townships that were hit hard by the storm have closed after they opened on June 1, according to teachers.

A primary school collapsed in Kanpyin village, some two miles from Rathedaung.

A teacher who works at the primary school in Kanpyin village said: “We have to build temporary classrooms. [Higher-ups] say the temporary school has to be built within 15 days. Currently, we are teaching students at houses of villagers. It is not OK for both teachers and students.”

As many school buildings were damaged in Rathedaung town, the same classrooms are used to teach both middle and high school students with middle school students being taught in the morning, and high school students starting at noon.

Many houses, schools, healthcare facilities and other buildings in Arakan State were destroyed or damaged by Cyclone Mocha, which made landfall near Sittwe on May 14.

Despite significant property damage, schools were ordered to open on June 1 as education is set as a priority, said Arakan State Administration Council spokesman U Hla Thein on May 24.

“When it comes to rehabilitation in Arakan State, the top priority is education. We don’t want Sittwe, Rathedaung, Ponnagyun, Kyuauktaw and other townships to lag behind when schools are opened on June 1,” said U Hla Thein.

However, authorities have yet to repair damaged schools in rural parts of Arakan State. There are a total of 3,193 basic education schools in Arakan State, and over 2,000 were damaged or destroyed by the storm, according to the Arakan State Administration Council.

A total of 2,400 schools were opened on June 1 in Arakan State, according to junta-controlled newspapers.