The Mon State Township Education Office reports they have only received just over 10,000 applications for the matriculation exam.

This is less than half of the previous year's number of those registering to take the university entrance exams.

"12,000 students is a lot less than in previous years. This also means that after the closure of schools, many people are going to work or there are some other reasons impacting the low application number," said a representative from the Education office.

Of the more than 12,000 applicants, more than 9,000 will take the exam inside the school and roughly  2,600 will take the exam outside.

More than 200,000 students are enrolled in more than 1,500 basic education schools in Mon State, and high schools are open six days a week.

In 2020, there were 32,520 applicants to take university entrance exams offered at 66 examination centers in Mon State.

The 2022 matriculation exam will be held from March 31 to April 9 from 9 am to 12 noon at examination centers.