A total of 421 teachers at basic education schools will take promotion exams in Arakan State, according to U Tin Thein, head of the Arakan State Education Department.

Out of them, 360 will take the exam for middle school headteacher posts, 43 will take the exam for department head posts and 18 will take the exam for the deputy township education officer posts, he said.

“They will have to take a written exam on May 26 and then do an oral test on May 27. After the examination, we’ll announce the results as usual,” said U Tin Thein.

Promotion examinations are held annually but were not held in 2019 and 2020, according to educational staff.

“Promotion exams are normally held in January after applications for the exam are accepted in December. But this year, the plan to hold the exam had been suspended since February due to political instability and has now been resumed. We, government staff, are obliged to do our duties under the rule of whatever government,” said a teacher who wished to remain anonymous.

The teacher added that there should not be criticism of non-CDM teachers as everyone has their own affairs.

“It shouldn’t force misunderstanding of each other, because everyone has their own opinion and view,” the teacher said.

Since the February 1 military coup, government staff has participated in the civil disobedience movement (CDM), and dozens of teachers have joined the CDM in Arakan State, according to the head of the Arakan State Education Department.