Maungdaw, Arakan State: Daw Mya Thein, a school principal is using a government primary school as her own property, while parents complain that she is also harassing students, said Mohamed Ahyas, father of two students from Myoma Khayoungdan Village, Maungdaw.
“The primary school is situated on the east side of Maungdaw High School, and is the only the primary school in Myoma Kyayoungdan.”
“The school head has been posted at this school for more than eight years now. She hasn’t been transferred to another place, as her husband was a law administration officer in Maungdaw.”
“The law administration officer is in a close relationship with the township education officer, giving him money so his wife can stay at the school without transfer.”
“In the school, six teachers and the principal are controlling all of the school’s administration affairs, especially controlling the funds. The principal collects monthly fees from shops that the villagers built in the compound of the school,” said a village administration member.
“The head collected 3,000 kyat from each student when admission started, and there are one thousand students in the school. The head made two sessions per day, morning and evening.”
“Now, again, she has ordered the students to give an additional 500 kyat each for maintenance expenses, such as water pots, mugs, and benches,” said a parent who has three children in the school.
“Earlier, prior to the start of the school year, the government announced that money was not to be collected from students for admission, but the school head collected 3,000 kyat per student, and now again 500 kyat per student. Where can I get this money when I have three children? It is big problem for me.”
“The school gets income from the shop stalls, but it goes into the pocket of the principal.”
“Now, the school head has given a stall to a rice mill owner. The stall makes a lot of noise, which disturbs the students. When we complain to the head, she doesn’t care about the complaints, and says, ‘It is my school, and whatever I want, you have to do.’”
“How can our children get education from teachers and principals who control administration as if the school belongs to them? This is only going on at Rohingya community villages, not in other community areas,” said an elder from Maungdaw.
“Every school in the rural areas is giving bad education to the Rohingya community, as the teachers do not care about education, but only about getting more money. “
