Almost all private schools in Arakan State have been forced to close following a Myanmar Air Force airstrike on two private high schools in Thayet Tabin village, Kyauktaw Township.

The attack, which occurred on September 12, tragically killed at least 20 students and injured 21 others.

The military regime has been accused of deliberately targeting students and educational facilities, causing widespread fear among parents and students. This has prompted a mass closure of schools as a precautionary measure.

Since the escalation of the conflict on November 13, 2023, all government schools in areas controlled by the Arakan Army (AA) had already been shut down due to previous airstrikes. The recent targeting of independent private schools has now led to the near-total cessation of formal education in the region.

Local residents in Kyauktaw Township report that parents have been rushing to retrieve their children from private schools ranging from Grade 8 to Grade 12, located in various villages under Arakan Army control. 

One resident stated, "Parents have been renting boats since yesterday morning to pick up their children due to concerns following the junta's bombing of Thayet Tabin village."

In response to the airstrikes, some villages have also temporarily suspended local tuition classes.

A teacher commented, "Our classes will be suspended for one or two days due to the ongoing attacks."

The victims of the September 12 bombing were students from Grade 8 to Grade 12, hailing from various villages in Kyauktaw, Mrauk U, and Maungdaw townships. 

The deliberate targeting of students has sparked deep concern among the community, forcing them to seek alternative educational methods. 

The widespread closures have severely disrupted the education system, leaving students to adapt to self-paced learning.