Schools that have been closed since July 9 due to the Covid-19 pandemic will reopen on November 1, Myanmar’s military regime has announced.

According to an October 28 statement, schools from 46 townships in nine different regions and states where Covid infection rates remain a concern will not be reopened along with the rest next week.

Gwa was the lone Arakan State township included on the list of those that would not reopen on November 1. In addition, 26 townships in Shan State; six in Kachin State; four in Magway Region; three in Kayah State; two each in Kayin and Chin states; and one each in Sagaing and Mandalay regions were exempted from the reopening order.

“Schools will be reopened in line with Covid-19 prevention regulations. The Ministry of Health has suggested that people stay in line with Covid-19 prevention regulations after they are fully vaccinated,” said Dr. Tun Tun Thein, deputy director of the Education Department in Arakan State.

DMG phoned Dr. Soe Win Paing, assistant director of the Public Health Department in Arakan State, seeking comment on the Covid-19 situation in Gwa Township, but he responded that he could not give comment as he was travelling.

On October 17, the government began a vaccination push targeting students over 12 years old in Arakan State, with the aim of inoculating eligible schoolchildren before classes resumed.

Major General Zaw Min Tun, spokesperson for the information team of the State Administration Council, said at a news conference on September 30 that Myanmar’s schools would be reopened when the Covid-19 caseload fell below 5%.

Schools across Myanmar were shuttered on July 9 as the third wave of Covid-19 hit the country hard. Schools were closed for the entire academic year in 2020 due to the pandemic.

Educators have expressed concern about the prospect of fitting a full year’s curriculum into about four months of schooling as Myanmar gets ready to send its students back to the classroom after the months-long hiatus due to the pandemic.