Although most basic education schools under the military junta have opened in the Mon-Karen border area, a resident from Kawbein said that students are attending school only in civilian clothes for security Concerns.
The revolutionary groups active around the Mon-Karen border have warned local village administrators that students should attend school either in civilian clothes or in traditional ethnic attire.
“In Mon villages, students wear Mon traditional dress every Monday; in Karen schools, they wear Karen traditional dress. On other days, they wear civilian clothes, and some even wear school uniforms. That’s how it is, even though it’s school,” said the Kawbein resident.
The resident also said the military junta’s departments have instructed students to wear civilian clothes to prevent their vehicles from being targeted by revolutionary groups.
Additionally, a teacher from Kawtwan stated that there is encouragement to teach more Indigenous literature and to incorporate Indigenous languages into school communication.
“We have about five schools where students attend in civilian clothes. The revolutionary groups active in this Kawkareik township are teaching indigenous languages; Mon villages teach Mon language, Karen schools teach Karen language, which has been taught before as well,” he said.
Therefore, in the currently opened basic education schools along the Gyaing River area, most teachers and students attend in civilian clothes, and classes are held only between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Meanwhile, military junta troops are stationed near schools at village edges, and due to drone attacks by revolutionary allied groups, locals say there is no security for students.
There are about 30 basic education schools, including high schools, opened along the Mon-Karen Gyaing River area, but locals fear that the school timeline will not be completed.
On June 9, in Paingyat village, Kawkraik township, without any fighting between both sides, an aerial bomb attack hit the school, killing three children and one female teacher.
