Students protest National Education Bill in Pyay

The procession marched from the University of Computer Studies on the Pyay-Aunglan expressway to the Bogyoke Aung San Statue at the centre of the town.

Protestors held placards demanding a democratic education system without centralisation and permission to form student unions. The participants also shared leaflets outlining the grievances of the student union over the education bill.

“We held demonstrations for four days against this education system in Yangon and sent an ultimatum to U Thein Sein’s government that we will wait 60 days for a response. We’ve held similar protests nationwide, and now in Pyay. We have plans to escalate the protests if the government does not give us any attention within 60 days,” said Aung Nay Paing from ABSU in Meiktila District. He then added that the students have experts on their side and have studied the education bill.

The ABSU requests a four-party meeting with the government. They asked for a special committee of 15 representatives from the government, parliament, National Network for Educational Reform and student forces to carefully review the whole education system.

Aung Soe Lwin from Thakhin Ko Taw Hmine Peace Network (Pyay branch) said, “I support the efforts of the students in this course. In this way, the students from across the country will be able to comprehend the situation and be willing to join hands. U Thein Sein’s government will inevitably pay attention.”

The demonstration in Pyay was well-accepted by locals and ended at 1pm.

Demonstrations have already taken place in Yangon, Taungngu, Mandalay, Myingyan and Monywa.