Maungdaw, Arakan State: Teachers from Aley Than Kyaw High School have been demanding extra money from students for coaching and exam fees in the academic year 2011-2012, in addition to fees for admission and books, which is causing hardship to poor students, according to one parent.
“The high school is controlled by its headmaster who is collecting money from students every month and fees for taking exams and to give them a pass after final examinations,” the source said.
The headmaster of the school collects Kyat 1,000 per head from kindergarten students, Kyat 1,500 from grade one students, Kyat 2,000 from grades two and three students, Kyat 4,000 from grades four and five students, Kyat 7,000 from grade six students, Kyat 7.5000 from grade seven students, Kyat 15,000 from grade eight and nine students, according to a local trader.
The poorer students are not able to pay the extra money, so they are not able to attend the coaching classes, one parent said.
Parents and students say it is difficult to pass the exams without the extra instruction.
“We had never given money for extra classes and there was no collection for monthly exams,” said a student.
“If the collection is going on, more students will leave school because of the fees,” according to a local elder.
“There are over 800 students in the school, so the teachers will get a large amount (of money) from the students,” the elder said.
“Education is the backbone of a nation. But, poor students are not able to study because of this financial crisis,” a retired school teacher from the area said.
