Dr. Tin Maung Win, Deputy Director General of basic Education Department, said that due to increased spread of COVID-19 in Rakhine State, it is uncertain to reopen middle schools across Myanmar.

Earlier it was arranged to reopen middle schools three weeks after the reopening of 7173 Basic Education High Schools in the entire nation.

Dr. Tin Maung Win said, “ middle schools were to reopen three weeks after the reopening of high schools. Till date we can’t say for sure when all 7173 schools will reopen. It is due mostly to COVID. At the moment there is a resurge in Rakhine, and it is not certain, when the middle schools will reopen.”

Basic education could be reopened only after directed by the central COVID committee and there has not been any instructions to reopen middle schools.

Dr. Tin Maung Win said , “ the central COVID committee has to give us instructions. When they tell us to inspect we do the inspection. When they tell us to open we open. We have to act upon the decisions made by the central COVID committee. We are being inspected upon and we have to do things necessary for the schools in accord with the standards laid down by them.”

Basic education high schools opened on 21 July.

In opening the high schools, all schools were inspected according to lengthy check list in order to prevent COVID.

In the entire nation there are altogether 7,173 Basic Education High Schools and of these, till 24 August, 6,573 A level schools have been reopened.

There has been a contagion of COVID virus since 16 Aug in Rakhine State, all schools reopened in Rakhine State have been closed again.

Dr Tin Maung Win said that there has been no report sent to the Basic Education Department regarding the infection of the girl from BEHS.2 in Sittway.

He further said that the office of Township Education should be notified daily of any unusual occurrence. So far there has not been any report.

Instructions have been given to have social distancing of at least 6 feet for students and teachers. Schools have been provided with soap, hand gel, toilets and temperature detecting devices. Learning periods have been reduced 5 from 8.

In reopening schools there are schools with a single session schools, alternate week schools, alternate week two-session schools and alternate two-session three-day schools.