Basic education high schools in Arakan State are ready to resume, said U Tin Thein, head of the education department in Arakan State.

He said the process of cleaning and disinfecting is completed at schools and refresher courses for teachers are already being provided to resume schooling.

“All refresher courses for Grade 4, 7 and 10 are already provided for teachers. So, all schools in Arakan State are ready to resume,” he said.

He did not know when and how schools would resume, but the department will follow the instructions of relevant authorities, he said.

U Thein Win, from a private education service, said he was concerned for the students because Major-General Zaw Min Tun, deputy minister for Information under the military council, said two exams would be held in an academic year to ensure students do not lose their education, while acknowledging that students might face challenges in reality.

“He said at a news conference that students can pass two grades in an academic year. It means children are taught a 10-month course in five months. I think he showed his idea only,” U Thein Win said.

The military council’s Minister of Education announced in state-owned newspapers that all schools would resume on June 1. U Thein Win said he was worried that all students couldn’t go to schools at the moment when, he added, education is directly proportional to the economy.

All universities and basic education schools have been suspended indefinitely since last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.