Parents Protest After Putao High School Collects 30,000 Kyat “Blank Exercise Book Fee” Per Student

Pajau Media

16th June, 2025

Parents in Putao, Kachin State, have lodged complaints with the education office after a local high school collected a separate fee of 30,000 kyat per student, allegedly for “blank exercise books.”

According to parents, “School hasn’t even been open for a full week, and there are already problems with the teachers. At enrollment, every student was told to pay 30,000 kyat for blank exercise books. Some parents can’t afford it and are struggling. In reality, there’s no reason for such a fee, it’s just forced collection. Some parents, unhappy with this, have filed complaints,” said a dormitory supervisor who attended a recent meeting.

The 30,000 kyat fee was collected by school staff at the start of June when students enrolled. After parents complained to the education office, disputes arose between teachers and parents.

The dormitory supervisor added, “On June 6, the education officer called a meeting with parents and teachers to address the issue. That’s when the arguments started. The total amount collected from the whole school isn’t small, over 60 million kyat. When asked to refund the money, teachers were reluctant and instead said it would be used to buy classroom supplies like rulers and water bottles, changing the reason for the collection.”

Putao High School, with over 2,000 students, is the only school in the area where this fee was collected. Parents estimate that nearly 60 million kyat was taken in total, at a rate of 30,000 kyat per student.

Since June 2, all primary schools in Putao District have reopened, but schools are not providing printed exercise books, and buying them from outside shops is also difficult, making learning even more challenging.

As a result, parents have complained to the education office about both the lack of school-provided exercise books and the forced collection of the “blank exercise book fee.”

Putao High School is the largest in the district, drawing students from all over the region. Recently, the school has faced a shortage of teachers, declining discipline, and other issues, leading to a steady decrease in student enrollment year after year.

News by: Malihku