As Myanmar school year nears, teachers and students say no to junta

Military wields penal code against educators but fails to snuff out opposition

20210522 Myanmar Shan State student protests

Students hold placards protesting the military's plan to reopen schools in June. They were part of a massive crowd in Nankham, North Shan State, on May 4 demonstrating against the coup and demanding the release of Aung San Suu Kyi. © Getty Images

Nikkei staff writers

May 24, 2021 16:02 JST

YANGON/BANGKOK -- Hundreds of thousands of students across Myanmar are set to boycott classes as the academic year begins on June 1 in protest against what some are calling "military slave education."

The boycott, an extension of a battle that is already taking place in Myanmar, is the latest show of opposition to the military coup that was staged almost three months ago.