Though the Burmese military junta has introduced free school education at the primary level, it has left the schools and its teachers in the lurch. There is no financial support forthcoming from the regime, said primary teachers in Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin State in northern Burma.

The military government so called State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) introduced its policy of free primary education over the last two years but it has neglected the need of the schools for it to continue to function, a school teacher said.

“Adopting a policy of imparting free education is good but the regime needs to support schools. So far we have not got any help from the government," said a primary school teacher in Myitkyina.

Meanwhile, the government school in Nao Mong (Naw Mung) city in Putao District is yet to reopen even though the Burmese military government reopened schools around the country for the new academic session since June 1, a resident in Nao Mong said.

According to residents in Nao Mong, only one or two teachers have arrived in Nao Mong even though registration in the school is over.

Apparently the teachers arrived late to Nao Mong because they did not get plane tickets which were sold out in the black market to other passengers, a resident added.