by Hafizur Rahman
November 20, 2025. Maungdaw, Rakhine State
Rohingya families in Maungdaw say monthly salary collections for teachers under the Arakan Army and United League of Arakan administration have become a heavy burden, even as schools reopen across the township. Parents told Rohingya Khobor that the fees demanded each month are straining households already struggling with rising costs and limited income caused by the ongoing conflict.
Residents from several villages said each family is required to pay between ten thousand and twenty thousand kyat every month to support teachers. One father said the situation has forced parents to choose between paying the school fee and buying food. He explained that many families want their children to continue studying but cannot manage the added expense.
Monthly Payments Increase Hardship
Income in the township has dropped sharply over the past year due to instability, restricted movement and a weak local economy. Parents said the school collection system has added a new source of stress, especially for families who already struggle to afford rice, cooking oil or clothes.
The same system applies inside Maungdaw town, where teachers collect fees directly from parents. High school families pay twenty thousand kyat, middle school families pay ten thousand and primary school families pay six thousand each month.
Stricter Rules in Rural Villages
In rural areas, the rules are even more demanding. Village leaders, acting on instructions from the township education office, collect money from every household regardless of whether the family has school going children. Better off families are told to pay twenty thousand kyat, poorer families pay ten thousand, and households without children still pay six thousand monthly.
Several parents said the system leaves them with no choice. A mother explained that families feel trapped because children need education but household income is not enough to cover the required fee.
Risk of Children Dropping Out
Residents worry the pressure may push more children out of school. They said the education system in Maungdaw needs stronger support so that learning continues without placing extra weight on families already living on the edge.
Many parents said they fear the monthly collections will rise further if the conflict worsens, making education even harder to access for Rohingya children.
