Emergency education for refugee children in Chin State

Schools in Chin State have been closed for almost two years now as a result of the Kovis epidemic and the aftermath of the coup.

On January 20, 2022, the Chin State People's Administration and the Chin Regional Defense Force (CDF) in Thantlang Township, Chin State, began building self-help classrooms for children from primary to middle school in 51 villages, officials said.

A teacher at the school said that Chin language was also included in the subjects taught from primary to middle school.

“In primary school, social, Science means Myanmar language. Science The two religions combined into one religion. And English. After math, Chin language. In middle school, I did not study Burmese at all. Science English, After math, Chin language; I only teach science in Burmese. That's how you learn to become proficient in the Burmese language. ”

How many schools are the People's Defense Forces opening? General Zaw Min Tun, a spokesman for the military council, said he did not know where the sites were open and did not condemn them for education.

"We do not know how many schools are open or where they are open. I want to say that we do not want to condemn the opening of schools."

Gen. Zaw Min Tun also said that the extent to which the PDFs can be used for education will be decided by the locals.

In Thantlang Township, more than 7,200 students are trained as teachers. More than 700 teachers are being trained for free, according to CDF officials.

The Thantlang Public Administration says the children have been away from the classroom for two years and are trying to familiarize themselves with the subject in the first six months of school. The first semester is from January 20, 2022 to July, the first semester. The second class will be held from September to May 2023.

"We can only teach primary education. The school will reopen in June."

In Mindat, Chin State, self-help schools have been opened in villages controlled by the People's Administration since October 2021, teaching more than 7,000 students. An official from the Mindat CDF education group told RFA that they are teaching systematically with 858 teachers.

"In other words, we are going for emergency education, Children have to flee the war. If there is fighting, I have to run. Do not overdo it. In the meantime, what is your education? There is no security. We have now completed six months of training. You can only get primary education. The school will reopen this June. Parents also want to open secondary education. ”

The Mindat People's Administration and the People's Defense Force can only provide education for children in Mindat Township up to primary school. Parents say middle school children have been away from classrooms for two years and want middle schools to open.

In Mindat and Thantlang, emergency education for children can be provided, but classrooms are not secure, but temporary shelters and school supplies and furniture are needed, said an education official from the Mindat Township Public Administration and Public Protection Committee.

Chin-eduction

“The problem is that after printing books, furniture, teacher, Salary to be paid to teachers These are the main problems. And there are now refugees in schools. Now we go to school in a tent made of rain. Children are very hot in summer. You can not stay in the room. "And when it rains, there will be a lot of difficulties."

A parent of a student told RFA that the emergency schools for children were effective because of the war-torn population of about 90,000 in Chin State and the lack of access to education.

“Now we are sending our children to school so that they will not forget. I was asked to study for fear of forgetting. It is effective. The children did not go to school for a long time, so they just went outside. Now that I go to school, I have discipline. ”

In Mindat and Thantlang townships in Chin State, there are about 15,000 children who have been given access to education due to the emergency education program of the People's Administration and People's Defense Forces, according to the group.

PDF attacks on former military dictator Than Shwe's home in Kyaukse

The Kyaukse District Defense Force (KDDF) ​​said that a hand grenade was hurled at some military council soldiers guarding his home in Kyaukse, Mandalay Division, the hometown of former Senior General Than Shwe, this morning (April 22).

A KDDF member said that three military council soldiers guarding the front yard of Than Shwe's house in Kyaukse's Su Kone ward were targeted at around 11:30 this morning.

"It is unknown at this time what caused the damage. Roads are being closed and inspections are being carried out. The gates at the entrances and exits of the city are being inspected. Motorcycles are being pushed down."

RFA has not confirmed the incident and the military council has not issued a statement.

On April 19, the Kyaukse District Defense Force and other local coalition forces also bombed Thanywa police station in Kyaukse Township.

Than Shwe has been living in Naypyidaw, not in his hometown of Kyaukse, since retiring from the military.