Around 20 NUG schools temporarily closed in Kani Township due to Myanmar junta military operations

Around 20 schools operated by the National Unity Government (NUG) in southern Kani Township, Sagaing Region, have temporarily closed due to Myanmar junta forces stationing and patrolling in Chaung Ma village, school administrators told Mizzima. The closures began on 2 May, when junta columns launched military operations in the township, and the schools have remained closed since, with some unable to open at all for the current academic year. “I worry for the children since schools are closed during term time. Those who can afford it are transferring their children to urban schools. Prolonged closures will ruin our children’s education,” a parent told Mizzima. Kani Township hosts 151 NUG schools. The closure of 20 of them has disrupted education for approximately 5,000 students. “Reopening schools is easy, but guaranteeing student safety is highly challenging. While we can prepare for airstrikes, we lack solutions to counter ground advances. Collaboration between defense groups and education boards would be the best approach,” an NUG school administrator said. Schools in villages hosting internally displaced persons (IDPs) are currently accommodating displaced students, and efforts are underway to establish classrooms within IDP camps. According to 2024 academic year statistics, the NUG operates approximately 6,000 schools nationwide, teaching over 700,000 students with a teaching staff of more than 60,000. Junta deployments along the road have displaced residents from Chaung Ma, Thin Win, Min Ma, Thamin Chan, and Aung Mingalar villages, who now face severe food and housing shortages. The post Around 20 NUG schools temporarily closed in Kani Township due to Myanmar junta military operations appeared first on ENG.MIZZIMA.COM.