Teachers and students won’t be able to participate in the 65th Chin National Day because the historic day on Feb.20 is the same day final examinations are scheduled in schools across Chin state.
Following the second round of Union-level peace discussions between the Chin National Front (CNF) and central government in December, it was agreed to make Chin National Day a state holiday.
“I had proposed to the state education officials to delay the school’s final examination because of the agreement between the CNF and state government officials… but the proposal was rejected,” said Pu Lal Maung Cung, a representative for the state Hluttaw.
Both students and teachers alike are disappointed with the government inflexibility to change the date of examinations. “The government should declare a (school) holiday on Feb.20. We also want to participate on the historic day,” said a Than Tlang middle school school teacher.
Chin National Day is a date of historical importance marking the Chin ethnic group’s struggle for self-determination. On Feb.20, in 1948, the General Assembly of Chin Land was held in Falam in Chin state. At the assembly, 5000 representatives voted to overturn their traditional feudal system and adopt a democratic method of electing local and state leaders.
