There were more than 8.1 million students enrolled in basic education schools in the 2023-2024 academic year, while currently there are only more than 6.7 million students attending school.

The above points were included in the presentations of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing at the National Defense and Security Council meeting held on January 31.

Regarding the education sector, in the 2023-2024 academic year, there were 8,108,227 (over 8.1 million) enrolled students in basic education schools across the country, but only 6,767,763 (over 6.7 million) are attending school, so there are 1,340,464 (over 1.3 million) who fail to attend school due to various reasons, which is 16.53 percent.

If we look back at the areas where school attendance fails, it was found that it is happening in some areas of Kayin State, Chin, State Kayah State, Rakhine State and northern Shan State. It is clear that it is the result of the lack of peace and stability. As for the universities, there were 112,968 students who attended when the school opened in the 2023-2024 academic year, and today there are only 86,687 students who are studying peacefully, so there are 26,281 absentees, which is a percentage of 23.3 percent. Students from Loikaw University in Chin State are unable to attend. We found out universities in Chin State, Rakhine State and northern Shan State have the highest percentage of failure to attend school. There are also students moving to other states and regions, said the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services.

Furthermore, the actions of the insurgents directly affect the education of the youth, who are the future human resources of the country. Because this action is very worrying for the future of the nation, all the entire public and international organisations must oppose it, he said.