The Burmese military junta has banned college students from staying in the hostel campus in Kalay University, Kalaymyo, Sagaing division western Burma.

A university student said that the authorities are no longer permitting students to stay in the hostel in the university campus located nine miles from Kalaymyo near the Chin state border.

The university Vice-Chancellor has shut down the hostel in the campus on the orders of the Central Education Minister. Students who are from remote areas can no longer stay in the hostel. They are staying with their relatives or have rented houses.

Most of students from Tamu Township and Chin state are facing severe difficulties in renting houses and arranging for food. The government's order is in effect coming in the way of their educational careers.

"As the cost of renting private houses is very high five or six students have to stay together in a small house. It is difficult to rent houses near the campus so the students are spending more money on bus fare and food," he added.

No official reason has been given for closing the campus hostel. It might be a preemptive action before the 2010 general election and have something to do with the current trial of Aung San Suu Kyi. Student groups have always been the ones to be in the forefront of protests.

There are four hostels in Kalay University and the boys used to stay in the Aung Zi Wa and Ban Du Lah hostels, the other two hostel Zalatphuy and Zalatnyi are allocated to girls. The monthly cost is Kyat 5000 with two persons in each room. There are about 4,000 students in Kalay University now.

The Burmese regime is wary of facing another uprising by students in the country after what happened in 1988. So the government always monitors activities of college and university students.