A free school called ‘Moe Toah Star’ (Dawn Star Donated Wisdom School) meant for Burmese children living in Mizoram, in Northeast India, is being shut down for a short period by the order of the Young Mizo Association (YMA).

The school had started functioning from October 26 with a lady Burmese teacher, who was paid Rs. 3000 per month. There are 25 students in the school. However, some leaders of YMA in Zuangtuai block have ordered the school to shut down for the time being, as permission for the school to remain open has to be discussed at higher level meetings of YMA.

“They did not inform us about setting up the school before they started. They informed us when it was already functioning through a letter, after which we informed the Central Committee of YMA. The school has to be closed before we hear what announcement was made in the Central YMA meeting,” said one of the leaders from Zuangtui block YMA.

Regarding this, a leader of an NGO said that they did not know how to handle this matter as they had informed the YMA recently. He also said that they were working towards the welfare of the people and not harming them and they expected the leaders of the YMA to understand and let them reopen the school soon.

However, reopening the school is mainly dependent on the discussions of the Central YMA committee. Therefore, 25 students of Burmese origin, migrant children have gone back to their respective houses in order to help their parents.

“They have no right to open a foreign school in our country, India. If they want to put their children into a school they have to approach government schools or other private schools,” said the president of Zuangtui block YMA.

Meanwhile, the ‘Dawn Star’ school committee members have decided to approach the Mizoram government in order to reopen the school soon.