T/S education office reports temporarily school closures in KNU controlled region

Photo - CJ

Published 13 July 2023

EMG

As Karen National Union (KNU) released warning letters not to open the schools in their controlled regions of Kyaikhto Township, Mon State, the Township Education Office reported temporarily closure of schools to the State Education Department, according to those who are close to the education department.

Saw Mu Lar, KNU’s chairman in Kyikhto Township, and his members gave the letters warning against closure of schools in Kyuuchaung and Kyuntaw villages in Kyaikhto Township, Mon State, to the headmistresses on the evening of July 10.

Concerning this situation, the relevant village administrators and the members of school board of trustees didn’t take responsibility for regional security. As, there had been difficulties to open the schools in 2023-24 academic years, the relevant school principals reported the temporarily closure of schools to the Township Education Office on July 10.

“We knew that Kyaikhto Education Office requested to allow temporarily closure of two schools in Kyuuchaung and Kyuntaw villages since July 11,” a person who is close to the education department.

Currently, the Basic Education High School (BEHS) in Kyuuchaung village already has been closed and the teachers moved onto the downtown of Kyaikhto Township, according to the locals.

The locals also reported that the BEHS in Kyuuchaung closed since July 11. As the KNU issued warning letters, the students feel afraid of going to the school. Likewise, the teachers moved to the Kyaikhto Township.

However, only basic education schools and private high schools in downtown of Kyaikhto Township have been opened, according to the dwellers.

In Kyuuchaung BEHS, there are 27 teachers including the headmistress, 168 high school level students, 169 middle students and 176 primary students. In Kyuntaw Basic Post Primary School, there are six teachers including the headmistress, 51 middle students and 288 primary students.

As KNU’s Kyikhto chairman Saw Mu Lar warned the principals against the closure of schools in their controlled regions, totaling 11 schools including the BEHS, three post primary schools and seven primary schools already have been closed.