14 November 2011: Local people in western Chin state have alleged that there is religious discrimination in nine schools, operating in the border areas set up for ethnic development since 2003.
There are eight teachers in a border area school in Thantlang town. Of them four are Burmese, three are Chins and one is from the Yaw tribe. Only two are Christians and the rest are Buddhists. All the students, totaling 40 are also Buddhists.
“Half the students are Burmese and the rest are from Chin tribes in Mintat and Kanpalet townships,” said a teacher. There is no space for local children.
Similarly, the majority of teachers and students are Buddhists in other border area ethnic development schools.
In the last state assembly session between November 8 and 9, some parliamentarians had asked whether religious discrimination exists in border area development schools in Chin state. They requested appointment of teachers in the school on a ratio which avoids religious discrimination.
However, the government’s policy in these border area ethnic development schools is against discrimination of tribes or religion.
Most Chin people are Christians and the rest are Buddhists and pagan worshipers.