July 21, 2024
Since the military coup in Myanmar on February 1, 2021, over 130 schools have been attacked, leading to significant destruction, according to a recent report by Myanmar Witness, a project under the UK-based Centre for Information Resilience (CIR). The report, released on July 20, indicates that from the coup date until April 30, 2024, there were 174 recorded attacks on schools and universities, resulting in the destruction of at least 133 educational institutions.
The Myanmar junta has used airstrikes, artillery shelling, ground assaults, and arson, contributing to the widespread damage to schools. These attacks have resulted in 64 deaths and 106 injuries, primarily due to airstrikes targeting educational facilities.
Matt Lawrence, Project Director of Myanmar Witness, emphasized the severe impact of the ongoing conflict on civilians, particularly on students whose educational opportunities have been severely disrupted. “The conflict in Myanmar has displaced thousands of civilians from their homes, with dire consequences. The attacks have not only destroyed schools but have also shattered the educational hopes of an entire generation of students,” Lawrence said.
The report highlights that the actual extent of the damage and disruption to education is likely much higher than the recorded figures. Most of the school destructions occurred in the Sagaing Region, accounting for nearly a third of all cases. Despite international laws protecting educational institutions, these protections have been largely ignored in practice.
According to the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA), school enrollment rates in June 2022 were 80% lower than in the previous two years, with 7.8 million children dropping out of school. Additionally, from the coup in 2021 until the end of 2022, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) documented approximately 260 attacks on schools or school personnel.
This ongoing violence and destruction have far-reaching implications for Myanmar’s future, disrupting the education system and the lives of countless children and educators.
