The number of students dropping out of school has increased in Mon state because of financial constraints given rising school and tuition fees outside school.

The schools have been enrolling students from May 25 to 31 and the academic year in 2008 will start on June 1.

According to a principal of a high school from a town, the number of students have decreased more than 20 percent compared to previous years in her school.

The principal said most students are dropping out of school due to family problems. Parents force their children to work to increase their income. Some children have left for Thailand as migrant workers and some are working in their family business.

This year the cost of enrolling in schools is not as much as last year. In the 5th and 6th grade students have to pay 1,500 Kyat and in the 10th grade students have to pay about 2,000 Kyat. For text books each student is paying 2,000 Kyat, she added.

The principal said that ministry of education issued a circular saying that they are worried at the decrease in the number of schools. It advised school authorities not to take money from the students except as school fees. Last year the authorities listed the number of schools which took money from students.

According to a middle school teacher from Mudon Township this year the number of students account for only 70 whereas there were 120 students last year in one standard. Teachers from other schools in Mon state also claimed that the number of students dropping out of schools has increased. Mon State has 91 high schools while the whole country has 1572 schools according to military government report.

The authorities have been providing free primary school education although students still have to pay during enrollment.