Schools in Rakhine State to be opened on 1 June, 329,129 students admitted to schools

 

May 31

 

The basic education schools across the nation will be opened on 1 June and the plans are underway to open the schools in Rakhine State, according to Rakhine State Education Officer’s Office.

 

The School Enrolment Week is from 23 to 31 May and a total of 329,129 students were enrolled at the basic education schools, private schools and monastic schools for the 2023-2024 academic year in Rakhine State until 30 May.

 

Regarding the school enrolment, U Win Maung, headmaster of No 4 BEHS in Sittway Township said, “Our school started accepting students on 23 May under the plan of school enrolment week and there are 609 enrolments today – 51 male students and 63 female students for Grade 6, 31 male students and 46 female students for Grade 8, 54 male students and 67 female students for Grade 9, 41 male students and 49 female students for Grade 10, 47 male students and 50 female students for Grade 11 and 44 male students and 66 female students for Grade 12. There are many difficulties for school enrolment programmes as the school buildings were destroyed due to Cyclone Mocha this year. Currently, the reroofing of school buildings is completed and it completes nearly 99 per cent. The students can study safely and warmly in a safe shelter. Some parents and people might think that it is impossible to open the schools on 1 June. But we are ready to open the school on the set day. The old and new school buildings were destroyed due to Cyclone Mocha. Now, it completes over 99 per cent of maintenance. I, as a headmaster, try hard to open the school. The situation before and after the cyclone is not much different. We are ready to open all the schools”.

 

In Rakhine State, the school enrolments for the 2023-2024 academic year until 30 May were 32,004 for KG, 36,245 for G 1, 42,469 for G 2, 41,423 for G 3, 31,203 for G 4, 32,717 for G 5, 30,098 for G 6, 245 for G 7, 24,467 for G 8, 20,307 for G 9, 14,014 for G 10, 12,621 for G 11 and 11,315 for G 12.

 

Daw Shwe Lae Lae Thit, the mother of a Grade-8 student from Kyaypingyi Ward of Sittway Township said, “I am worried as the children have to go to school in the post-cyclone era. Now, I am glad that I see the maintenance of school buildings is completed. The arrangements are being made to open the schools on 1 June and it is ready for the students. Currently, the headmaster meets with the parents of students and provides textbooks, blank books and pencils. The school will be more active if the teachers, parents and school welfare committees work together”.

 

Similarly, Grade-8 student Maung Than Htoo Zaw said, “I live in Pyitawtha Ward of Sittway Township. We evacuated to MraukU due to the cyclone. I was disappointed when I saw the damage to schools and houses after the storm. Now, the schools have been reroofed and we can use the roads, too. I am happy to go to school as I will meet with my friends who haven’t seen me for about three months.”

 

The religious buildings, schools, office buildings and houses in Rakhine State were destroyed by Cyclone Mocha and now, the government, Tatmadaw, state government, Myanmar Police Force, volunteers and departmental staff are making efforts to open the schools in time. — Tin Tun (IPRD)/KTZH