ULA/AA touts sweeping plans for education in Arakan State

By Admin 11 Aug 2025

DMG Newsroom

11 August 2025, Ponnagyun

The Department of Education under the United League of Arakan (ULA) is trying to establish a modern education system and advanced curricula for basic education students and university students in Arakan State, the spokesperson for the Arakan Army (AA) said Monday.

The ULA's Department of Education is developing short-term education plans and long-term education policies, as well as quality curricula, according to the spokesman U Khaing Thukha, who added that the aim is to develop a modern education system that is equitable and responsive to the needs of the country.

The Arakan curriculum framework has been drawn up to Grade 7, U Khaing Thuka said at an online press conference on Monday, adding that development of curricula for the remaining grades is ongoing and involves education experts.

U Khaing Thukha said the ULA's Department of Education's examination team examined more than 7,800 students in the 12th grade for the academic year 2023-2024. He continued that plans are underway to soon provide higher education to students who have completed their basic education.

However, parents and teachers say that plans to open a higher education institution will take time, leaving students who have already passed their 12th grade exams in a state of uncertainty.

"It is good that AA is trying to open higher education institutions, but the results of the 2024-2025 Grade 12 exam have not been released yet," said a parent of a student in Ponnagyun Township. "It is known that AA has taken away those who excelled. So if a university cannot be opened in Arakan State from 2025 to 2027, it will not be easy for the students who [are ready to enroll now] and the students who will come after them. This means that they may grow up and end up outside the school."

Education observers note that the education sector is crucial to developing the human resources needed to build a future Arakan State. But with many children's schooling disrupted, in some cases for years, by the conflict between the Myanmar military and AA, some challenges seem likely to persist no matter which authority is overseeing the education system.

"The problem there is that we still have a shortage of teachers and the need for qualifications that we have experienced in the past. It would be better if the ULA could strengthen these and make the education system more efficient," said a senior assistant teacher from the ULA's Department of Education.

It has been reported that education staff working in some AA-controlled parts of Arakan State are being forced to teach without proper salaries and collect tuition fees from students to pay their wages.