Burma: Rice distribution means children can attend school

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The World Food Program (WFP) distributed rice to primary students, both boys and girls to support their study in Maungdaw Township on February 15, said a local villager.

The WFP distributed 10 kilograms of rice per head in Bawli Bazaar village tract, on the upper side of Bawli Bazaar and some of the lower parts of Bali Bazaar in Maungdaw Township .
WFP has been distributing rice to primary students for quite some time in northern Arakan, particularly Maungdaw, Buthidaung and Rathedaung townships, in Arakan. "It helps the parents to send their children to school," said a local parent.

In rural areas, most children do seasonal work with their parents but now after getting rice from WFP they can go to school.

"But the quality of education has not improved for lack of adequate teachers compared to the number of students. For instance, a primary school has over 500 students in five classes and only two teachers. How can they teach and control so many students? Besides, teachers don't pay attention to teaching and are frequently absent from school as their salary is low and the concerned authorities do not take any action. They have to look for extra income affecting their teaching, according to primary schoolteachers.

The government also neglects to take steps for the improvement of education in northern Arakan. It restricts recruitment of local teachers hampering education at the primary level.
Earlier, in November 13, 2007, 20 kilograms of rice was distributed among primary students by the WFP in Bawli Bazaar, Maungdaw Township.