More than 1,700 students were absent from Grade-5 final exam in 2023-2024 academic year in Mon State which started in February 22, according to the Township Education Office.

According to the statistics, 443 students in Kyaikhto district, 340 in Thaton district, 701 in Mawlamyine district and 254 students in Ye district were absent respectively.

There are 10 townships in Mon State and the numbers of students listed to sit for the Grade-5 exam were 33,227. On the very first day of the exam, only 31,489 students sat for the exam, according to an official close to the Mon State Township Education Office.

Majority of the absentees may be from the conflict hit areas, he continued.

In Kyaikhto Township, Karen national Union (KNU) didn’t allow schools to open in their controlled area. As a result, over 20 schools in Kyaikhto and Bilin townships were closed. Furthermore, clashes are frequented in Bilin Township.

During December 2023, about 1,500 locals including school-aged children and elders had to move to safer places as skirmishes broke out in Thaton Township, according to those helping IDPs.

Besides, exchange of fire took place in Chaung Hna Khwa Village in Kyaikmaraw Township since November 10, 2023 and therefore, about 30,000 locals from 20 villages had to flee from their homes and more than 20 schools were closed, according to IDPs.

In Ye Township, clashes were frequently occurred and explosions took place in schools and lack of stability in the area led to families moved to places where there is more stability. These causes added in the rise of absentees to sit for the Grade-5 final exam, sources said.