Only 67 students have enrolled at Hinthada Technological University in Ayeyarwady Region for the 2022 to 2023 academic year, according to Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) staff at the university.
Previously, when the National League for Democracy (NLD) was in power over 1,000 students attended Hinthada Technological University, but since the February 2021 coup very few students have enrolled. Last academic year, 2021 to 2022, only 50 students attended the university.
Prior to the coup there were 140 educational staff at the university. Of those, 67 joined the CDM movement, according to an official from the Hinthada Township Interim People’s Administration.
One of the staff who had joined the CDM said: “Our National Unity Government (NUG) is trying to improve the educational sector. I’m also joining [the CDM] to work with the NUG government.
Currently, there are no professional trainers and teachers at Hinthada Technological University, because most of them are involved in the CDM movement.
“There is no proper University education system for the students, I don’t want the students to go to University…. The military regime only wanted to open the schools so that they could pretend they have an effective administration. Education doesn’t matter to them, all they are focussed on is ruling the country. If you attend university you don’t have to worry about exams, whether you pass or fail your exams makes no difference, you will still get your degree after college.”
A student who would normally be enrolling in university said: “I won’t go to university till after the Spring Revolution finishes. I dislike the dictatorship’s education system. Besides, most other students are continuing to boycott the military’s slave education.
“Some of our friends have also joined the people’s Defence Force (PDF) and some are in liberated areas fighting back against the dictatorship as much as they can. I don’t want to betray them so that’s why I don’t want to attend university.”
The Military Council Ministry of Education reopened Universities and Colleges nationwide on 12 May.
