Amid education boycotts, ethnic schools help to fill the gap
A boycott of state schools under military rule has caused a spike in enrollments at ethnic community schools and created opportunities for ethnic armed organizations to broaden and strengthen trust and understanding with the public.
Frontier MYANMAR | By NU NU LUSAN and EMILY FISHBEIN | 17 JANUARY, 2022
When state-run schools opened throughout Myanmar on June 1, in many cases with armed soldiers stationed outside, fewer than 10 percent of students showed up. But in ethnic community schools, including those run by ethnic armed organizations, enrollments have skyrocketed.
“Now, people don’t believe in the Burmese government education system … parents are starting to trust us and send their children to us,” said Hpawnga Yaw Sau, head of the Kachin Independence Organization’s education department.
The National Unity Government’s education ministry is developing a home-based learning programme for basic education so that students boycotting schools under the military administration can continue to learn. NUG deputy education minister Ja Htoi Pan told Frontier that the programme will include video lessons, assessment templates and a learning handbook. During the interim period before these materials are available, she is encouraging students to continue learning, and parents, guardians and teachers to try to adapt to the situation.
