The Arakan State Private Schools Association has reportedly urged private schools, tuition classes and hostels in Arakan State to shut down operations until April 30 due fears of the spread of coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.

The Department of Education has directed private schools and tuition classes including at public schools not to organize short- and long-term training courses, talks, and discussions during the period from March 13 to April 30.

“We already gave an instruction to close private schools and tuition classes in Sittwe. All private schools and tuition classes have suspended operations,” the chairman of the Arakan State Private Schools Association, U Myint Thaung, told DMG.

Private schools and tuition classes in Sittwe initially planned to resume operations in the third week of March, having closed temporarily amid concerns of coronavirus contagion.

Members of the Arakan State Private Schools Association and teachers from private educational institutions held an emergency meeting in Sittwe on March 24. The meeting resulted in the release of a statement urging participants to abide by the government’s instruction and close all private schools, tuition classes and educational institutions in Arakan State.

The local government ordered the closure of universities, public schools and private schools in Arakan State in an attempt to curb the spread of coronavirus in accordance with instructions issued by the Ministry of Education.