Free education provided to underprivileged children in AA-held Arakan townships

By Admin 07 Jul 2025

DMG Newsroom

7 July 2025, Sittwe

An initiative is being expanded to provide free education to all school-age children in some townships controlled by the Arakan Army (AA) in Arakan State.

Free education to all school-age children is currently being implemented by social organisations in Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw, Rathedaung, Pauktaw, Ann and Myebon townships.

An official from the Tan Khoe Sayar Tun Education Centre said the free education programme aims to provide education to war-displaced and poor children, regardless of their ethnicity or religion.

"We don't have enough money to build classrooms. Donations are still low. Some students have just started school. In some places, classrooms cannot be built yet, so we have planned to provide free education to students for a month as a home school," the official added.

The centre was established in April and plans to open up to 18 schools in Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw, Rathedaung, Pauktaw and Ann townships.

The centre currently provides free education to approximately 3,000 students in five townships. In Myebon Township, a free education school led by the Lay Wa Ti Myo Chit Association, a local charitable group, is also open, educating about 40 students from primary to matriculation levels.

"For the future generation of children, we have planned to provide free education to all the children of Arakan State, regardless of their ethnicity, with donations from the Arakan people living abroad," said U Khaing Tun, chairman of the association. "The children come here because their parents are really poor and cannot afford to send them to school. Among the students are child war refugees and children of disabled parents."

He added that students need supplies such as eating utensils, umbrellas, and raincoats, but due to limited donations, they are unable to provide them.

The Tan Khoe Sayar Tun Education Centre plans to open free schools in almost all townships in Arakan State, and will expand its operations to more townships based on the amount of donations received.

"It is very good that a free education system has been implemented for poor children. It would be better if such a system could be implemented in other townships," said a local woman in Mrauk-U. "The United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA) should also consider the needs of displaced children and cooperate with social welfare organisations to provide more educational support."

Fighting between the AA and Myanmar's military regime has displaced civilians across much of Arakan State, and the junta closed schools in 2024 amid the conflict.

The ULA/AA has said it will run the education sector systematically this year in territory it controls, while civil society organisations are working to ensure that children have access to education.