The number of students enrolled in monastic schools in Arakan State has increased this year because of fighting between Tatmadaw and Arakan Army (AA), said the venerable monk U Ar Yiya Wantha, secretary of a monastic school group.

He said that student numbers are also increasing because Arakan State is one of poorest states in Myanmar.

“For some children there are no middle schools or high schools in their village. That is one of the reasons that they come to a monastic school. Another is that people living in rural areas are poor and cannot afford to send their kids to private schools or to hire tutors. So they come to a monastic school instead,” he said.

He requested help for monastic schools, saying that they are facing many difficulties including paying salaries to their teachers.