Myanmar education ministry faces hurdle in reopening schools

Sub-title: 

The Ministry of Education is having problems getting schools ready to reopen because some are being used as COVID-19 quarantine facilities or temporary shelters for villagers fleeing fighting between the Arakan Army (AA) and Tatmadaw (military).

Description: 

"In Shan State, 13 basic education schools serving as quarantine centres have still not been returned to the authorities, said U Win Maung, Shan State’s education officer. He said the schools are being used to quarantine migrant workers who have returned from China or Thailand. “It’s the government’s responsibility to arrange for suitable alternative quarantine sites,” he said. “Township education officers will inform them about it on June 15. There should not be any delay.” U Sai Phoe Phyat, a state legislator for Muse, said schools in his township are being used as quarantine facilities. In Rakhine State, which has only one confirmed COVID-19 case, several schools are being used as temporary shelters for villagers displaced by fighting between the AA and Tatmadaw. Most of the 7000 displaced villagers in Kyauktaw township are staying in nine schools, said U Maung Than Sein, a Pyithu Hluttaw (Lower House) MP for Kyauktaw. “We can’t just tell them to move,” he said. “The authorities should find them suitable accommodation elsewhere.” On May 26, the government announced that high school classes would resume first, followed by primary and middle schools two weeks later. But there is a strong possibility that some schools in Rakhine would not be able to reopen due to the fighting. On May 13, the Union Government Office ordered the return of 6021 school buildings being used as quarantine centres or temporary refugee camps by June 15 so that the Ministry of Education could prepare them for the reopening of classes..."

Creator/author: 

Thet Zin Soe

Source/publisher: 

"Myanmar Times" (Myanmar)

Date of Publication: 

2020-06-05

Date of entry: 

2020-06-05

Grouping: 

  • Individual Documents

Category: 

Countries: 

Myanmar

Administrative areas of Burma/Myanmar: 

Rakhine State

Language: 

English

Resource Type: 

text

Text quality: 

    • Good