Kantarawaddy Times
Since June 2, several schools in the eastern part of Pekhon Township, Southern Shan State, have been forced to shut down due to clashes between the military junta troops allied with Pa-O National Organization (PNO) troops and revolutionary forces.
As the tension between the groups is intense and military columns have advanced into the eastern part of Pekhon Lake, around 15 villages have been displaced. In villages where residents have not yet fled, schools have also been closed due to safety concerns.
“The school reopened, so I sent my son there. But there weren’t enough textbooks, so he returned home shortly after. The next day, just when the books arrived, heavy artillery shells hit the area. The teachers said they would wait for a week to assess the situation. But, unluckily, we had to flee within that week,” one of the student parents shared.
A local teacher explained that in some villages where residents have not yet fled, schools still remained closed due to nearby shelling by the military forces.
“Even if we want to reopen schools, artillery is being fired. Due to witnessing the people’s fleeing, we don’t dare to open. Parents are deeply concerned about education for their children. If they were to send their children to other villages and fighting breaks out again, it would be extremely difficult for them. Right now, parents are concerned about their children’s education,” said one of the teachers from the East Pekhon.
In previous years, many children were unable to attend school due to conflict as well. The recent fighting has even further fueled worry among parents about their children’s education.
There was also an incident on the morning of June 6, where a 19-year-old student from Nan Paw Lon village in eastern Pekhon was killed by artillery shelling fired by the military junta.
A local teacher stated that there are about 27 schools in the eastern part of Pekhon, but it is unclear how many are still operating amid the ongoing conflict.
