Private schools gripped by political crisis and academic calendar uncertainty

By DMG 19 Mar 2021

DMG Newsroom
19 March 2021, Sittwe

Private schools in Arakan State have yet to make preparations for the coming academic year as Myanmar’s Education Ministry has not made any official announcement about the opening of basic education high schools for the 2021-22 academic year.

In Myanmar, a new academic year usually starts in June and ends in March. Due to the current political crisis and financial hardship, parents don’t bother much about the education of their children, said principal U Aung Kyaw Nyunt of Pan Pyo Let private high school.

“As the government has not made an official announcement about the opening of schools, parents do not bother with the education of their children while it is not sure whether exams can be held,” he said.

Schools were not able to open in the 2020-21 academic year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As the Myanmar government ordered all schools to close to prevent the spread of COVID-19 last year, private schools suffered financially.

“Private schools still can’t open as the government has not given official permission for schools to re-open. Private school founders who had rented buildings to open schools last year suffered financially. If we can know if schools will be allowed to open in the coming academic year, those in the private education sector will be able to make preparations,” said private teacher U Thein Win.

Head of Arakan State Education Department U Tin Thein said he has not received any instruction from the Education Ministry.

“We can tell nothing for sure. The Education Ministry has not given any instruction to us so far. But we are giving training to teachers of primary, secondary and high schools,” said U Tin Thein.

The Education Ministry earlier this year reportedly instructed the state education department to make preparations in line with COVID-19 health guidelines to re-open basic education schools in Arakan. However, the ministry has not given any instruction after the military coup gave rise to uncertainty.

Basic education high schools were opened in July 2020 — more than one month behind the academic calendar — but following the COVID-19 spikes, schools were ordered to close in late August.