20 July 2010: Despite the Burmese Prime Minister U Thein Sein, who is also the chairman of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), allowing the opening of a Sub-high school in Sakta village, Hakha township in Chin state for the 2010 academic year, it has not been done till date.

Locals in Sakta village had requested the PM to open a sub-government high school in their village in March 2010 during his visit. U Thein Sein had responded to their request for the school to be inaugurated for the 2010 academic year.

“The Prime Minster had ordered opening a high school in our village in the second week of July 2010 to the Director of Township Education Department. However, the Director did not take any initiative till today,” said an elder in the village.

It is learnt that the State Education Department had informed the Education Director to follow the PM’s instructions, but director U Aung Tual has been silent.

If the school opens immediately, at least 200 students can be enrolled.

Similarly, villagers of Zokhua in Hakha Township had requested the U Aung Tual to open a sub-government high school in their village during a festival with bull meat during his visit. Some people believe that the delay in the opening of a high school in Satta village might be connected to the visit U Aung Tual to Zokhua.

“Zokhua villagers had arranged a festival after slaughtering a bull for the U Aung Tual in order to honour him get a sub-government high school for their village. I think it will take time to open the school in our village because the Education Director might have promised something or he has given priority to Zokhua village,” said a local of Sakta village.

The military junta has restricted opening new sub-schools in remote areas in Chin state earlier.