All government schools in each township in northern Shan State have been ordered to buy exercise books delivered by the Chairman of Shan State (North) Peace and Development Council and Commander of the Northeastern Region Command Maj-Gen Aung Than Htut. He has insisted that it is compulsory, according to sources from the Sino-Burma border.

The books were delivered to the schools when the session started in the beginning of June. He also set a deadline for teachers and asked them to send the money by the end of June.

The money for the books is now being collected by teachers in every school, said a source.

A dozen exercise books were sold for at least Kyat 3,600 (US$ 3.6) while the market price for good quality exercise books is just over Kyat 2,000 (US$ 2), a local source in Lashio said.

“The quality of the books delivered was bad and the pages were very thin,” he said.
 
A primary school in Si Aw village, Laogai (Laukkai) was ordered to buy five dozen and the cost of the book was deducted in advance from teacher’s salaries. And teachers therefore have to recollect from the students, an INGO worker in Laokai told SHAN.

 “The book doesn't have any logo.  The cover has only FUJI written on it,” he said.

School days in the present academic year is different from earlier years, as there is only a day off in a week. “They [junta] are trying to complete all examinations before the ensuing 2010 general elections,” he added.

Junta authorities finished issuing national IDs cards for people in Laogai last month, according to him.