No students attended classes at Hakha University in the Chin State capital on May 5 after the military council opened all universities and colleges across Burma for students in their final year.
Dr. Lian Za Hkuk, the deputy rector of Hakha University, told Khonumthung News that teachers were ready to teach classes when it opened last week, but no pupils joined them. Some came to the school, he said, but they just hung around the campus. One hundred and twelve students are registered to complete their master’s or bachelor’s degree, the deputy rector explained.
“All of the teachers joined the CDM (civil disobedience movement). The military regime is not our elected government…it overthrew the civilian government,” said a university student. “Many students were killed…Their hands are bloody, and we do not want to study under the military junta.”
A parallel government in southern Chin State opposed to the military regime is asking parents to not register their children for school.
The People’s Administration Department (PAD) for Mindat Township released a statement requesting that parents refuse to send their kids to school.
“We don’t want a fascist military government. This is why we are urging people not to cooperate with the military junta,” a PAD official told Khonumthung News. In its statement, PAD warned it won’t take responsibility for people’s safety if they register their kids in school.
The regime’s education ministry announced plans to open primary, middle and high schools in June despite that a majority of teachers have joined the protest movement.
Meanwhile, the National Unity Government, formed by ousted lawmakers who won seats in the last election, said it is working on a parallel education system, which includes homeschooling.