The junta has declared that just over 2,000 students in Arakan State will take this year's Matriculation Examination.
A sum of 2,097 students will sit for the exam from three townships that remain under junta control: Sittwe, Kyaukphyu, and Manaung.
As per a newspaper supervised by the junta released on March 7, out of 2,097 students, 1,492 are regular attendees, and 605 are external students.
The junta furthermore announced that eight testing centers have been established for these students: four in Sittwe, two in Kyaukphyu, and two in Manaung.
A teacher from Kyaukphyu Township, who preferred to stay anonymous, voiced worries that the real number of students sitting for the exam could be less than anticipated because of ongoing conflicts and detentions of local residents in Sittwe and Kyaukphyu.
"The students taking the exam primarily come from city regions. Students from rural regions worry about being confined to cities because of transportation issues and persistent conflicts. Some are concerned about arrests and have decided against taking the exam," the teacher mentioned.
In the three townships still controlled by the junta, only students from city regions and surrounding villages could attend school in Sittwe and Kyaukphyu during the 2024-2025 academic year, owing to ongoing conflicts and transportation interruptions.
The Matriculation Examination for 2025 is set to take place from March 17 to 22.
Typically, the matriculation exam in Arakan State takes place at more than 120 testing centers annually. In 2025, the junta will be limited to conducting the examination at just eight centers.
During the 2023-2024 academic year, a total of 8,534 students took the matriculation exam in Arakan State, with 5,253 successfully passing.
Numerous students and their families are escaping their residences due to the junta's repressive measures during the continuing conflict in Arakan State.
Consequently, students who have been displaced are missing out on educational opportunities.
Intense clashes have persisted in Arakan State since November 2023.
Out of the 17 townships in Arakan State, 14 are governed by the Arakan Army (AA), while Sittwe, Kyaukphyu, and Manaung townships are the exceptions.
