PDFs prevent students in Sagaing, Magway (Anyar region) from taking matriculation exam
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Phyo/ Thant Zin (NP News) - March 22
According to local sources interviewed by the Statesman Journal, PDF threats and transportation challenges prevented the opening of matriculation exam centers in some townships of the Anyar region, including Sagaing and Magway. Despite efforts to hold the exam, these issues led to its disruption.
It has been reported that the 2024-2025 academic year's matriculation exam was conducted across the country, with a total of 817 examination centers opening, starting from March 17.
According to Sayadaw U Wirathu, Grade-12 students who were to take the matriculation exam at Mingun Pahtotawgyi Education Academy in Mingun, Sagaing Region, had to travel by boat and car to bypass the fights happening on the way.
According to a statement posted on social media by Sayadaw U Wirathu, "The students of Mingun Pahtotawgyi Education Academy (Grade-12) have to travel to Sagaing to take the exam. Due to ongoing fighting along the route to Sagaing, they traveled from Mingun to Mandalay by motorboat. After reaching Mandalay, they will continue their journey by car to Sagaing. This is the current situation in Myanmar. I want to inform the Senior General about this."
In addition, in Shwebo Township, more students took the matriculation exam than last year, but a local man said that many children had difficulty taking the exam due to the road closures of the PDFs.
He stated, "The situation on the Kyaukmyaung side is such that the road is passable, but the communication routes are blocked by the PDF forces. They have cut off the transportation routes. As a result, the children are coming to Shwebo to take the exam. In Shwebo, there are high schools such as No. (1), No. (2), and No. (3). Compared to previous years, the situation has improved significantly. On the Kyaukmyaung side, some children are able to come and take the exam, but there are others who can't make it. Security forces are providing transport with vehicles, but the PDF forces frequently block the routes on that side."
Similarly, in Monywa Township, students taking the matriculation exam had to temporarily stay in the city to take the exam due to the road closures imposed by the PDFs, according to a local man.
Additionally, a local resident stated that some students who traveled from villages within Shwebo Township to take the exam were forced to wear civilian clothes instead of their school uniforms due to threats from PDF groups. They only changed into their uniforms after arriving at the exam centers to take the exam.
The local resident stated, "Some children went to take the exam not in their uniforms, but in civilian clothes. They only wore their uniforms once they were inside the exam center. In No.2, Basic Education High School of Ahlone, the security situation was good because it was held within a military compound. They provided pre-arranged transport with their vehicles. Some children from the villages, due to the situation in their areas, had to come to the city to take the exam. For example, in Yinmarpin, they couldn’t take the exam there and had to travel by motorbike to Monywa to sit for it. Traveling by motorbike meant they came as they could, without the option of going back and forth. They didn’t wear their uniforms and just went as they were to take the exam."
In addition, Tatmadaw has provided security to the matriculation exam centers in Kanbalu and Homalin townships in Sagaing Region.
“Kanbalu and Homalin in the upper Sagaing Region are safe and secure. We are concerned and we are being cautious. As for the situation in Salinggyi, there are reports that the PDFs from the Yeosagyo side are there,” the source said.
However, in Myaing and Htilin Townships in Magway Region, local residents told The Statesman that they were unable to open exam centers due to the local PDF armed groups' dominance and the ban on education.
A local man stated, "In Myaing, the government schools have been closed. The two high schools there couldn’t hold the exam this year either. They couldn't hold it even if they wanted to. Everything had to be completely shut down. Htilin also couldn't hold the exam. We are really worried about the future of the children."
Similarly, a local woman said that since 2021, basic education schools in some villages in Taze Township have been banned from providing education to PDF groups.
According to the State Administrative Council, the 2025 matriculation exam was attended by more than 90 percent of the students nationwide.
Due to the battles of the KNDF (Karenni Nationalities Defence Force), there was no examination center in Kayah State last year, but this year one examination center was opened, and eight examination centers were opened in three townships in Rakhine State where the AA (Arakan Army) is fighting.
In addition, four examination centers were opened in some areas of Shan State (northern) where the KIA (Kachin Independence Army), TNLA (Ta'ang National Liberation Army), and MNDAA (Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army) are active.
Zawgyi Version:
PDFs prevent students in Sagaing, Magway (Anyar region) from taking matriculation exam
Phyo/ Thant Zin (NP News) - March 22
According to local sources interviewed by the Statesman Journal, PDF threats and transportation challenges prevented the opening of matriculation exam centers in some townships of the Anyar region, including Sagaing and Magway. Despite efforts to hold the exam, these issues led to its disruption.
It has been reported that the 2024-2025 academic year's matriculation exam was conducted across the country, with a total of 817 examination centers opening, starting from March 17.
According to Sayadaw U Wirathu, Grade-12 students who were to take the matriculation exam at Mingun Pahtotawgyi Education Academy in Mingun, Sagaing Region, had to travel by boat and car to bypass the fights happening on the way.
According to a statement posted on social media by Sayadaw U Wirathu, "The students of Mingun Pahtotawgyi Education Academy (Grade-12) have to travel to Sagaing to take the exam. Due to ongoing fighting along the route to Sagaing, they traveled from Mingun to Mandalay by motorboat. After reaching Mandalay, they will continue their journey by car to Sagaing. This is the current situation in Myanmar. I want to inform the Senior General about this."
In addition, in Shwebo Township, more students took the matriculation exam than last year, but a local man said that many children had difficulty taking the exam due to the road closures of the PDFs.
He stated, "The situation on the Kyaukmyaung side is such that the road is passable, but the communication routes are blocked by the PDF forces. They have cut off the transportation routes. As a result, the children are coming to Shwebo to take the exam. In Shwebo, there are high schools such as No. (1), No. (2), and No. (3). Compared to previous years, the situation has improved significantly. On the Kyaukmyaung side, some children are able to come and take the exam, but there are others who can't make it. Security forces are providing transport with vehicles, but the PDF forces frequently block the routes on that side."
Similarly, in Monywa Township, students taking the matriculation exam had to temporarily stay in the city to take the exam due to the road closures imposed by the PDFs, according to a local man.
Additionally, a local resident stated that some students who traveled from villages within Shwebo Township to take the exam were forced to wear civilian clothes instead of their school uniforms due to threats from PDF groups. They only changed into their uniforms after arriving at the exam centers to take the exam.
The local resident stated, "Some children went to take the exam not in their uniforms, but in civilian clothes. They only wore their uniforms once they were inside the exam center. In No.2, Basic Education High School of Ahlone, the security situation was good because it was held within a military compound. They provided pre-arranged transport with their vehicles. Some children from the villages, due to the situation in their areas, had to come to the city to take the exam. For example, in Yinmarpin, they couldn’t take the exam there and had to travel by motorbike to Monywa to sit for it. Traveling by motorbike meant they came as they could, without the option of going back and forth. They didn’t wear their uniforms and just went as they were to take the exam."
In addition, Tatmadaw has provided security to the matriculation exam centers in Kanbalu and Homalin townships in Sagaing Region.
“Kanbalu and Homalin in the upper Sagaing Region are safe and secure. We are concerned and we are being cautious. As for the situation in Salinggyi, there are reports that the PDFs from the Yeosagyo side are there,” the source said.
However, in Myaing and Htilin Townships in Magway Region, local residents told The Statesman that they were unable to open exam centers due to the local PDF armed groups' dominance and the ban on education.
A local man stated, "In Myaing, the government schools have been closed. The two high schools there couldn’t hold the exam this year either. They couldn't hold it even if they wanted to. Everything had to be completely shut down. Htilin also couldn't hold the exam. We are really worried about the future of the children."
Similarly, a local woman said that since 2021, basic education schools in some villages in Taze Township have been banned from providing education to PDF groups.
According to the State Administrative Council, the 2025 matriculation exam was attended by more than 90 percent of the students nationwide.
Due to the battles of the KNDF (Karenni Nationalities Defence Force), there was no examination center in Kayah State last year, but this year one examination center was opened, and eight examination centers were opened in three townships in Rakhine State where the AA (Arakan Army) is fighting.
In addition, four examination centers were opened in some areas of Shan State (northern) where the KIA (Kachin Independence Army), TNLA (Ta'ang National Liberation Army), and MNDAA (Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army) are active.