In Yebyu Township, Tanintharyi Region, Mon literature classes offered in the summertime in Mon villages have been forced to suspend operations due to ongoing conflict, according to local volunteer teachers.
Since April 20th , fighting between military junta forces and joint resistance groups has intensified in the region. As a result, residents of Mon villages including Ah Lel Sa Khan, Rar Hpu, Kyauktalin, Kyautkadin, and Sinswei have fled their homes to escape the violence and remain displaced.
Although resistance forces have withdrawn from the area, junta troops remain stationed in monasteries in Sinswei village, one of the main venues where Mon literature classes were being held, making it difficult to resume teaching.
With many villagers still displaced and only limited time left in the summer session, teachers reported that the previously administered practice exams have been treated as final assessments, and classes have been suspended indefinitely.
“We had to treat the practice test as the final exam and end the course. Students stopped coming, and we ran out of teachers. We simply couldn’t continue. Even in Sinswei village, where township-level exams are usually held, the situation is too unstable. Everything has been called off,” said a teaching monk involved in the program.
Summer Mon classes in Yebyu Township were also disrupted in previous years due to armed clashes, preventing the programs from being completed.
As a result, local youth have faced increasing challenges in learning their native Mon language. Community members have also voiced concerns about the lack of support for civilians in the area during times of conflict.
“This is the second consecutive year we’ve had to cancel classes. What makes it worse is that we’re not getting the kind of assistance we need, especially compared to other Mon regions. It’s hard to move around. With military checkpoints set up between Mon State and Tanintharyi, even transporting basic supplies has become difficult. This area also struggles with frequent theft and armed robbery,” said a local source.
Before the 2021 military coup, over 500 students were attending summer Mon literature classes in more than five locations across Yebyu Township. However, since 2024, the number of students has dropped to around 200.
Due to ongoing fighting, some Mon villages in Yebyu have suspended summer classes for the second year in a row, prompting concerns among Mon language activists about the long-term impact on the preservation of Mon language and culture.
Yebyu Township is home to over 30 Mon villages. Each year, at least ten of these including Pauk Pin Kwin, Ah Lel Sa Khan, Kyauk Ka Din, Tharyarmon, Kywe Thone Nyi Ma, and Thingantaw organized summer Mon literature classes, often divided into smaller departments based on student numbers.
Similar disruptions have occurred elsewhere, such as in Karen State, where Mon communities along the Asia Highway between Myawaddy and Kawkareik have also had to suspend classes and flee due to escalating conflict.
