Matriculation exam centres to be set up in Arakan State towns

11 Feb 2023

DMG Newsroom
11 February 2023, Sittwe

Sixty exam centres will be run in towns in Arakan State for the upcoming matriculation examination in March, which will be the last one organised under the current curriculum, according to the Arakan State Education Department.

A total of 19,165 students have registered for the matriculation exam this year. The number of students taking the exam has declined by half, and the state education department therefore decided to run the exam centres in towns, head of Arakan State Education Department U Ba Htwe Sein told DMG.

“Many public schools have only a few students — for example, 10 or so — taking the matriculation exam. It is not convenient to run an exam centre at a school where there are only 10 students sitting for the exam. We need to consider transportation and security in running exam centres. So, we have decided to run the exam centres at public schools in towns,” said U Ba Htwe Sein.

There will be six exam centres in Sittwe; five each in Thandwe, Pauktaw, and Taungup; four each in Ann, Ponnagyun, Kyaukphyu and Buthidaung; three each in Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U, Gwa, Ramree, and Maungdaw; and two each in Minbya, Myebon, Manaung and Rathedaung.

Parents of students are concerned that it will cost them a lot to travel to the town and stay for a week during the exam period.

Daw Htay Htay, the mother of a student from Kwa Sone Village in Mrauk-U Township, said: “Previously, the exam was held in Tin Nyo. It was near us, and convenient for us. We are concerned that it will not be convenient for us if we have to travel to the town. We are also concerned about the political situation. Parents have difficulties.”

Township General Administration Departments will help students and their parents from the countryside with accommodation, according to the Arakan State Education Department.

“Commodity prices have doubled this year, and students from needy families will have difficulties,” said Daw Ma Than Wai, the mother of a student from Zeditaung Village in Buthidaung Township.

The upcoming exam is the last exam that will be held under the current curriculum, with the matriculation exam as of next year to be held under a new curriculum.

A total of 41,757 students sat for the matriculation exam last year and 19,729 passed the exam, according to the Arakan State Education Department.