Ministry of Education Orders Retake of Grade 12 Exams, But Remote Students in Putao Face Challenges

Pajau Media

April 8, 2025

Due to the Ministry of Education's directive to retake the Grade 12 examinations, schools in Putao Township are facing difficulties in recalling students from remote areas for re-examination, according to a local teacher.

"This time, they’ve announced that the Grade 12 exams will be retaken at the end of May. So, students are now preparing again. The problem is, most Grade 12 students in Putao District previously took their exams at either Putao High School or Dukdan High School. After the final exams of the year, all the students from distant villages returned home. Given the current communication challenges, it’s extremely difficult to reach them," said a teacher from Dukdan High School.

Some students remain unaware of the retake due to poor communication and internet access, making it hard for schools to notify and reassemble them.

"Many students still don’t know what’s happening. We’re very worried they might not be able to return in time," the teacher added.

Most students had already returned to their home regions after finishing their exams in Putao and Dukdan, leaving many out of contact.

While students near the township have resumed exam preparations, nearly half remain unable to participate.

The decision to retake the exams follows a March 28 earthquake in Mandalay, which destroyed the main university hall and burned over 300,000 answer sheets, as announced by the military council on March 29.

The statement confirmed that answer sheets from 8,699 examinees in Kachin State, as well as all those from Sagaing and Mandalay Regions, were lost in the fire. However, no resolution regarding the lost papers was provided.

In Putao District, the Education Ministry has ordered a retake of the 2024-2025 academic year university entrance exams by late May, as the examination center was also damaged by fire.

Reported by Malihku