The Basic Education High School in N Jang Yang (Injangyang) Township, Kachin State, which had been closed for nearly a month and a half, has reopened locals said.
Following the permanent withdrawal of Junta troops stationed in N Jang Yang for over a decade on November 20th, the town witnessed the departure of administration staff, police personnel, as well as departmental staff including from the education sector.
Nonetheless, the township's Church leaders and local elders managed to reconnect with the previously departed educational staff, bringing them back to the school between late December and early January, facilitating the normal reopening of the school. The returning teachers will resume teaching until the conclusion of the 2023-24 academic year.
Starting from the next school year, the responsibility of operating the school will be transferred to the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO)'s Education Department. Ongoing efforts are in progress to fully convert the school into a KIO educational facility, as per local sources.
"The education staff, including those who relocated to Myitkyina, have been successfully recalled. Right from the beginning, the elders of the Church took on specific responsibilities for the education sector in N Jang Yang. Now as the teaching staff returns, concrete plans are underway to ensure the smooth continuation of operations until the end of the school year”, a local told KNG.
The closure of the school for nearly a month and a half resulted from the withdrawal of the Junta soldiers and subordinate police forces, which also prompted the departure of the education staff from N Jang Yang.
KIO's education department has chosen to retain the current teaching staff for the ongoing school year, with a planned transition to assume full responsibility from the 2024-25 academic year. This decision follows comprehensive discussions aimed at ensuring the smooth operation of the school without any unnecessary disturbances.
"At N Jang Yang High School, the presence of students from nearby villages underscores the crucial role this institution plays in the region. As KIO assumes government responsibilities and spearheads the school's reopening, support from NGOs will be essential. This encompasses addressing various needs such as school supplies, expenses, and providing material support for teachers”, the aforementioned local added.
The high school in N Jang Yang, situated at the upper triangular confluence of the N'Mai (May Kha) and Mali Kha rivers in Myitkyina Township, typically enrolls approximately 60 students with about 10 teachers.
