Students at government schools in Kawt Bein and Kawt Pauk villages on the border between Mon and Karen States are facing security concerns despite attending classes, according to local sources.
“The schools only reopened at the end of June. The students are afraid to wear school uniforms. The children from Kawt Bein, Kawt Pauk and Kawt Pa Laing villages, and the teachers go to school in civilian clothes. School finishes early, around 2 pm. Not all teachers who live far away from the school have returned. Currently, only about 400 students are attending the school,” said a resident of Kawt Bein.
Locals report that the local resistance forces have instructed students to go to school in school uniforms for security reasons because they are obstructing the military council’s administrative functions.
Moreover, the area is not safe due to drone attacks by the joint resistance forces on junta troops stationed near the schools on the outskirts of these villages, locals said.
Due to these circumstances, the students and teachers of Kawt Bein, Kawt Pauk and Kawt Pa Laing attend school in civilian clothes, with school hours restricted to between 9am and 2pm, according to parents.
The school administration has informed parents that in case of a shooting during school hours, they should not come to school and pick up the students until the situation is safe, the Kawt Bein resident added.
“Soldiers are present in the ward where B.E.H.S No.6 and B.E.H.S (Branch) are located. Their position is close to the school. We have heard frequent gunshots in recent days. They have asked parents not to pick up their children if shooting occurs. They say they will keep the students safe. So we have to warn the children not to play outside on sunny days,” the resident explained.
There are about 30 government schools, including high schools, along the Gyaing River basin on the Mon-Karen border. Although all schools are open, residents fear that they will not be able to finish the school year.
On the evening of 8 July, a 60-year-old woman was reportedly killed by a drone attack in Kawt Bein village.
The Mon State Federal Council (MSFC) stated on 5 July that military junta troops stationed in villages in the Gyaing River area continue to harass returning residents.
Sent by IMNA.