No war reprieve for students taking matriculation exams in Arakan State

By Hnin Nwe 13 Mar 2020

Hnin Nwe | DMG

March 13, Sittwe 

Students currently sitting for matriculation exams are also finding their mettle, courage and focus put to the test in Arakan State’s Mrauk-U and Kyauktaw townships, where gunfire rang out, artillery shells exploded and several more civilian casualties were tallied over recent days in the war-torn region. 

Shots were fired near Tinnyo and Paung Toke (Muslim) villages in Mrauk-U Township, and Theintan village in Kyauktaw Township, at about 5 a.m. on March 13, resulting in more than 20 civilians being injured. Gunfire was also reported in Kyauktaw Township’s Thazi village hours later, killing three people and injuring five others.

The sound of both small and heavy arms fire while Ma Phyu Waing Nwe was taking her exam in Mrauk-U made it difficult to concentrate, she told DMG.

“I can’t focus on reading due to hearing the sound of firing. We are in fear of when and where the sound of firing will come from even while taking the examination,” she said. “I have felt a lack of safety in my place. We are in constant fear of daily life.”

It is not only students but also their parents who are worried that nothing resembling a ceasefire appears to be in place over the 10-day matriculation exam testing period. 

“All parents of students sitting in exam centres are full of fear that heavy weapon shells on errant trajectories might fall on their children,” said U Aung Kyaw Zaw, one such parent.

Many have requested a halt to clashes during the examination period, noting the high-stakes nature of the testing and its importance for shaping students’ futures.

With fighting continuing to flare across several Arakan State townships ahead of this month’s testing, several examination centres were moved to sites deemed safer. That reshuffling was cited as one reason for higher absentee rates during this year’s testing, however. 

Out of 49,183 students registered to sit the exam in Arakan State, a total of 4,022 students were absent for the first day of testing on Wednesday, according to a press release issued by the Department of Myanmar Examinations.

The 2020 matriculation exam period runs from March 11-20.