Parents urge Arakan State authorities to ensure electricity during matriculation exam period

By DMG 30 Mar 2022

DMG Newsroom
30 March 2022, Sittwe

Parents in Arakan State are urging authorities to guarantee the electricity supply from dusk to dawn as students prepare to sit the matriculation exam over the coming days.

Frequent, prolonged blackouts have plagued Arakan State in recent months. Daw Ma Thar Yar, the mother of a student intending to sit this year’s matriculation exam, said authorities should at least provide electricity from dusk to dawn as the ability to study without logistical difficulties becomes increasingly important.

“Children are sitting the matriculation exam [as early as] tomorrow. So, we want to have electricity throughout the night, from 5 p.m. to dawn. It is OKto cut power during the daytime. If possible, I would like to urge the authorities not to impose power outages for just a week, during the exam period,” she said.

The matriculation examination will be held from March 31 to April 9, and more than 45,000 students have registered to take the test in Arakan State, according to the state’s education office.

In a statement earlier this month, the junta-controlled Ministry of Electricity and Energy said Myanmar’s power supply has declined because liquefied natural gas-run power plants have halted operations due to rising gas prices, and because electricity pylons supplying electricity from one of the country’s main hydropower plants were blown up.

“I am concerned about how my children are supposed to read when the electricity goes out. Blackouts can cause emotional distress to students,” said U Maung Tun Khin from Zedi Pyin village in Rathedaung Township.

Daw Hla Saw Shwe from Apauk Wa village, Kyauktaw Township, said: “As parents, we are concerned that power outages will negatively affect their studies.”

DMG was unable to obtain comment from Arakan State’s electricity department. An official from the Sittwe District electricity office, however, claimed that there would only be about two hours of power cuts per night during the matriculation exam period.

“If necessary, we may have to reduce loads for around two hours. There won’t be blackouts throughout the night,” he said on condition of anonymity, adding that people can file complaints with the concerned electricity offices if their power goes out for more than two hours.

At a press conference on March 24, junta spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun said to expect daily blackouts until the end of May.