Since June 1st, basic education schools have resumed operations for the current academic year, however, there are certain students who remain unable to return to school due to the severe damage inflicted upon the educational facilities in the cyclone-affected refugee camps located in Rakhine State.
Cyclone Mocha has caused significant damage in Rakhine State, including the schools that were established in the refugee camps. As a result, students are facing considerable challenges in their learning due to the destruction caused by the cyclone.
"It has been two weeks since we reported to the Department of Education regarding the deteriorating state of the schools, but regrettably, no action has been taken thus far. Moreover, the teachers who traditionally visit the camp each year to provide instruction have not arrived as anticipated for the current academic year”, said U Soe Naing, in charge of Tainnyo refugee camp in Mrauk-U Township.
Within that camp, there exists a group of over 100 children eagerly anticipating the opportunity to receive primary education, spanning from kindergarten to Grade 4, he added.
Similarly, at the War Taung Refugee Camp situated in Kyauktaw Township, the classrooms damaged by the cyclone remain unrepaired, leading to approximately 250 students encountering significant difficulties in pursuing their studies.
"I worry for the education of the children, uncertain of when they can return to school”, said U Aung Hla Shwe, who is in charge of the camp.
The cyclone also caused significant damage to the school in Taung Min Kalah refugee camp, located in Kyauktaw Township. Approximately 100 students used to study at the school.
Alongside the urgent task of repairing the schools that were affected by Cyclone Mocha, which made landfall on May 14th, there remains a pressing need for teaching materials to support the students in refugee camps.
According to concerned parents, despite more than 20 days passing since schools reopened for the new academic year, students from refugee camps are still unable to commence their studies and continue to wait for favorable conditions to begin their education.
"We are quite sad that while schools have reopened in other places, our children have not been able to go back to school yet. It is disheartening that there is still no capacity to initiate any measures within the camp to reopen the school”, said Daw Ma Aye Khaing, a resident of Taung Min Kalah refugee camp.
DMG attempted to reach out to U Ba Htwee Sein, the head of the Arakan State Education Office, and U Hla Thein, the spokesperson of the Rakhine State Government under the Military Council, for comment on the challenges faced by students in refugee camps due to the recent storm but were unable to get in touch.
According to the Military Council's announcement on June 15th, Cyclone Mocha caused significant damage to Rakhine State, resulting in a total of 1,538 schools being affected. Out of these, 375 schools have been repaired, while the remaining 990 are still undergoing the repair process.
