The Lin Yaung Chi Foundation, which provides free education to more than 2,000 children across three townships in Arakan State, has halted operations due to funding shortages.

The Lin Yaung Chi Foundation used to operate schools offering free education from kindergarten to grade 9 to 2,016 children—mostly internally displaced persons (IDPs)—in Pauktaw, Ponnagyun, and Rathedaung townships under Arakan Army (AA) control.

“Right now, some of the schools have already had to close because the foundation is barely receiving any donations. A few are still managing to operate with loans, but with the ongoing funding shortage, all of the free schools could end up shutting down completely,” said a foundation official.

Because of funding constraints, some schools have closed, leaving the foundation able to provide free education to only 1,687 of its 2,016 students.

The Lin Yaung Chi Foundation spends around 17 million MMK each month on student materials like books and pencils, and on hiring teaching staff.

The foundation has urged donors to increase their support, cautioning that even the schools still in operation face an uncertain future due to funding shortfalls.

“If we have to shut down completely, these children would lose access to education entirely. That would be an irreparable loss for the future of our country. To build a developed society, we need a new generation of educated citizens. So, we’re asking everyone to help and contribute as much as they can,” the official added.

Although schools are still operating in AA-controlled townships in Arakan State, many children, most of them are from displace families, are struggling to reach to keep studying.

IDP families are struggling to survive due to unemployment, irregular income, and limited access to aid, making it hard for them to focus on their children's education.

In townships like Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U, Minbya, and Pauktaw, many school-age IDP children have been forced to become beggars, even though they should be in classrooms.

On the other hand, social aid organizations are running township-level programs to provide free education for local children. Still, IDP parents face other challenges that prevent them from sending their children to these schools.

“Right now, we’re struggling just to afford food, so sending our children to school isn’t even something we can think about. Even if the schools are free, we can’t cover the cost of materials. I’ve had to make the difficult decision to stop sending my daughter to school,” said an IDP woman from Pauktaw Township.

In November 2023, when the AA launched an offensive to take control of towns in Arakan State, clashes forced many schools to shut down. However, in the current academic year, many of them have been able to reopen.

Schools in AA-controlled areas are also reopening now, but many IDP children still cannot attend due to economic hardships and urgently need effective support.