The KNU spokesperson Pado Saw Taw Ni said that classrooms and teachers are needed in schools in the Karen National Union (KNU) Kawthoolei District this academic year due to an increase in the number of students.

This year, more students enrolled in schools under KNU’s Karen Department of Education and Culture (KECD) and self-help schools than previous year.

Currently, a single high school has over 1,000 students enrolled.

“After the military coup, students stopped going to local schools. They came to us. But there are some accommodation problems for students,” an official said.

He said the increase in the number of students in KNU schools was due to students’ unwillingness to attend military-affiliated schools.

As the student population grows, so does the demand for teachers, said Saw Ae Kanyaw, information officer for the Karen Students Network Group (KSNG).

Hundreds of schools, including primary schools, middle schools, and high schools, with up to 100,000 students, are run by the Karen Education and Culture Department (KECD) in KNU-controlled territories.

Moreover, there are thousands of students who enrolled at advanced educational schools – junior colleges, teacher training schools and self-developed schools.