Rakhine Student Ma Thiri Soe Tops Myanmar’s 2026 Matriculation Examination

Poe War — Ma Thiri Soe (Roll No. Manat-670), an Arakanese student originally from Rakhine State, has secured the top spot nationwide in Myanmar’s 2026 Matriculation Examination, administered by the junta government. She achieved the highest national score, earning six distinctions for a total of 562 points. Ma Thiri Soe is the daughter of U Aung Tin Win and Daw U Khin Kyawt from Sittwe. Due to heavy fighting in Rakhine (Arakan) State, her family relocated to Mandalay. There, she attended the CAE Private High School and took her university entrance exams in Chan Aye Tha San Township, Mandalay Region. The exam results were released on June 28. Out of 255,228 nationwide candidates, 133,673 passed, reflecting a pass rate of (52.37%). Mandalay Region recorded the highest number of successful students at 28,393, followed by Yangon Region (23,203) and Ayeyarwady Region (16,507). In Rakhine State, 1,692 students in three townships- Sittwe, Kyaukphyu and Manaung- sat for the exams across three testing towns in the state. Of these, 820 passed, achieving a pass rate of (48.46%). Out of 17 townships in Rakhine State, the Arakan Army has attacked and occupied 14 townships, so the Matriculation Examination was only held in 3 towns.