Some ethnic armed groups have forced the closure of schools in some townships in northern Shan State under the Myanmar military council’s Ministry of Education, according to local residents.
Residents reported that the Kachin Independence Organisation/Kachin Independence Army (KIO/KIA) notified a school in Mineyulay village, Kutkai Township, in northern Shan State, of the closure.
“There are two schools in our village – a basic education middle school run by the military council and a basic education primary school run by the Ta’ang National Education Committee (TNEC). The Kachin Army has sent a letter saying that the school will be closed,” said a woman from Mineyulaw village.
After being notified of the closure, parents and school officials negotiated with the KIA, but by 13 June they had not reached an agreement, so the school remained closed, villagers said.
Some schools in Namtu open for the 2023-24 academic year were also reportedly forced to close by an armed ethnic group in the area.
On 9 June, Palaung State Liberation Front/Ta’ang National Liberation Army (PSLF/TNLA) Administrative Area 4 forced the closure of a school operated by the regime’s Ministry of Education in Mansi village, Namtu Township. However, at the request of the school’s management, village elders, and parents, the school was able to reopen on 10 June, according to the Mansi village administrator.
“It is true that the school was ordered to be closed yesterday. TNLA informed us by phone. They said the school should be closed in the morning, but allowed it to reopen in the evening,” said the administrator of Mansi village.
In Panglong vilalge in Namtu Township, the TNLA also forced the closure of a military council’s education ministry-run school, according to local residents.
The forced closure of schools in Namtu and Kutkai Townships has left children unable to attend school.
Financially disadvantaged parents from Mineyulaw village in Kutkai and Panlong village in Namtu are worried about their children’s education as the situation is not favorable for them to send their children to other schools in downtown areas.
Sen by NMG.