CNI News
June 2, 2026
Families of internally displaced persons (IDPs) fleeing conflicts in northern and eastern Shan State, as well as Kayah, Chin, and Rakhine states, report that directives have been issued to temporarily suspend school enrollment for their children in Yangon.
According to sources, a high school student who recently relocated from Lashio Township in northern Shan State and currently resides in Sanchaung Township, Yangon Region, was denied enrollment at a private high school.
Economic analyst U Thet Zaw told CNI News that he learned the Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a directive prohibiting the enrollment of displaced children in both private and government schools.
"When it comes to enrolling children, those coming from northern Shan, eastern Shan, Kayah, Rakhine, and Chin states—the children of war refugees—are not being allowed to enroll in schools in Yangon. That is what's happening. It is said that the directive was issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs. They cannot enroll in private high schools, and they cannot enroll in government schools either. There is a directive stating that school enrollment for those from these four states/regions is temporarily suspended," U Thet Zaw said.
Children enrolling in school
Furthermore, there are reports that IDPs from Chin, Kayah, Rakhine, and Shan states are being barred from school enrollment under the pretext of not possessing a "school transfer certificate" (leaving certificate).
An education staff member from Paletwa Township, Chin State, told CNI News that it is highly impractical for those fleeing active conflict zones to obtain transfer certificates because their local schools no longer exist and teachers are no longer present.
"While I haven’t encountered this among my own students, I’ve heard rumors of such issues happening in Hmawbi and Taikkyi townships. They say those coming from Chin State don't have school transfer certificates. The schools use the lack of a transfer certificate as an excuse. But how can they get a transfer certificate when the schools themselves don't exist and there are no teachers? Here, without mentioning specific states and regions, they are just restricting them based on the absence of a transfer certificate," the staff member said.
Analysts and observers have pointed out that either the government or the Ministry of Education needs to establish temporary education offices to help displaced children obtain the necessary transfer certificates.
Children enrolling in school
A local resident from northern Shan State told CNI News that schools are only speaking out about these educational restrictions because they were ordered to do so by administrative officials responsible for overseeing education.
"The very fact that they are saying this means they have the authority of a directive behind them. A directive comes from an organization that has the power to instruct them. For education, who would give the orders? At the state and regional levels, the administration would be involved. Therefore, they only dare to speak openly because they were directed by such authorities," the resident said.
Meanwhile, State President U Min Aung Hlaing has previously stated that the country’s development will progress more rapidly only when educational standards are raised nationwide. He emphasized the need to ensure that schools operate systematically and meet designated standards.
He also noted that supporting education is vital for creating job opportunities in rural areas, warning that if school education is not supported, children will face a difficult journey in their future lives.
Currently, school enrollment for the 2026–2027 academic year in Myanmar was scheduled from May 25 to May 30, with basic education schools officially opening today on June 1.
