Attacks on the infrastructure of the school
Not only did the military destroy the dreams of Myanmar students but also they demolished the educational buildings as their weapon and terrorized the security of the students and teachers (GCPEA, 2022). Although some of the teachers and students returned to military government school because of financial problems and various situations since the middle of 2021, they were also threatened by the military to sign not to join the CDM movement in the future (GCPEA, 2022). According to the UN data, there were 320 cases of using schools and universities as their weapons and 260 attacks on educational buildings using explosive weapons. Those kinds of attacks and suspending the schools as their weapon decreased the rate of attendance of the students in the schools and made the barriers to continuing their education (GCPEA, 2022). The military exploded bombs and targeted schools especially in the areas of the People Defense Force (PDF) army largely influenced such as Sagaing, Magway, and Kareni State (Htun,2023). Among them, the school in Kani’s Shu Khin Thar village in Sagaing Region was attacked by the military Helicopters and they threatened the civilians not to send their children to anti-junta schools. Similarly, they exploded bombs with fighter jets at the school buildings in San Pha Lar village in Kayin state’s Kawkareik on June 6, 2023 (Htun,2023). Because of those violent actions, young students in their targeted area could not apply their educational pathways losing their student rights and delaying their academic growth. The Myanmar military destroyed and interrupted the dreams of the Myanmar students in various ways. According to the UN-reported data, the lack of education access increased the rate of mental disorders among Myanmar students and deteriorated not only the development of the country but also the economy. In addition, the insufficient quantity of instructors and low-quality education system in the military government schools forced the students far away from higher education(GCPEA, 2022). The young students who would be good leaders of the country through higher education had to face many barriers to reach their goals when the military crushed both the education system and infrastructure.
As the Myanmar military coups in history destroyed the dreams of the youths, the military coup on February 1, 2021, also demolished the dreams of Myanmar students threatening their further education. The young people who were excited to fulfill their dreams and would be good leaders to contribute to the country had to give up their dreams revolting against the military dictatorship. Moreover, the Myanmar military shut down the learning opportunities terrorizing the schools and security of the students. The Myanmar military demolished in different ways not only the dreams of young students but also their lives. In this coup, some could not go back to their home, some could not get back to their good lives before the coup and some could not stay in their home. How could we contribute to the Myanmar students whose dreams have been destroyed by the military coup missing their ways to recover from that situation and go straight their way?
Reference
Graphs of arrest and death data as of October 31, 2023 collected and compiled by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) since the February 1, 2021 military coup. (2023, November 1). Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. https://aappb.org/?p=26621
Htun, W. (2023, June 7). Myanmar military is stepping up attacks on schools ahead of school year. Radio Free Asia.
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/schools-06072023163030.html
Myanmar Coup interview series: ‘The fact is, I cannot bear to live under oppression’. (2023, September 27). Jurist Staff Legal News & Commentary. https://www.jurist.org/features/2023/09/27/myanmar-coup-interview-series-the-fact-is-i-cannot-bear-to-live-under-oppression/
