Students not attending universities in southern Arakan State

By Admin 09 Dec 2023

DMG Newsroom
9 December 2023, Sittwe

Universities are being kept open in Arakan State despite the fighting, but few if any students are attending due to the lack of safety, road blockades and fuel shortages, according to locals.

The Arts and Science University, Technological University and University of Computer Studies in Sittwe and Taungup University are kept open, but there are no students.

“Classes started on November 23, but students from other areas can’t go due to blockade of roads by the regime. Students in the town also don’t go because they don’t feel safe, and also because fuel prices are high,” said a university student from Sittwe University majoring in mathematics.

Junta troops occupied Sittwe University in November. Students are concerned about the risk of landmines and other explosives.

More than 4,000 students have enrolled in Sittwe University for the academic year 2023-24. A staffer at Sittwe University said: “We accept enrollments as usual. Only some 20 final year students are attending currently.”

No student is attending the Technological University near Yay Chan Pyin Village in Sittwe Township. A student at the Technological University said: “Teachers have told some students to attend. Students don’t because there is no guarantee for their safety and they can’t buy fuel.”

Lecture halls are also empty in the University of Computer Studies in Sittwe, and teachers are pressuring final-year students to attend classes, said a student.

“No student is yet going to the university. Lecturers have told final-year students to attend. They told them that they won’t get the degree if they don’t come,” she said.

Students are not attending Taungup University in southern Arakan State due to blockades of roads and waterways.

An agricultural institute in Kyauktaw, the Education College in Kyaukphyu, and government technical institutes in Thandwe and Kyaukphyu townships are empty too.

The regime has blockaded roads and waterways between towns following the fighting between junta troops and the Arakan Army (AA). It has ordered that public schools and universities remain open, but in the case of public schools, parents are not sending their children as there is no guarantee for their safety.