Myanmar junta suspends more than 125,000 teachers for opposing coup
- Myanmar’s education system was already one of the poorest in the region – and ranked 92 of 93 countries in a global survey last year
- Meanwhile, a gun battle erupted on Sunday between Myanmar security forces and an alliance of armed ethnic groups in Muse, bordering China
The suspensions have come days before the start of a new school year, which some teachers and parents are boycotting as part of the campaign that has paralysed the country since the coup cut short a decade of democratic reforms.
A total of 125,900 schoolteachers had been suspended as of Saturday, said the official of the teachers’ federation, who declined to give his name for fear of reprisals. He is already on the junta’s wanted list on charges of inciting disaffection.
Myanmar had 430,000 schoolteachers according to the most recent data, from two years ago.
“These are just statements to threaten people to come back to work. If they actually fire this many people, the whole system will stop,” said the official, who is also a teacher. He said he had been told that the charges he faces would be dropped if he returns.
The state-run Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper has called on teachers and students to return to schools to get the education system started again.
