While the Myanmar military junta says it is working to provide “better education” for students in the country, school enrollment for the 2022-23 academic year indicates the number is just 40 per cent compared to when the country operated under a civilian government.

More than 5.6 million students enrolled for 2022-2023 academic year, according to the Department of Basic Education Schools under the Military Council.

Under the basic education system this includes primary and secondary or high schools.

The enrollment week for the 2022-2023 Academic Year was set by the Military Council from 26 May to 1 June.

At a press conference this week, a junta spokesman tried to give the process a good spin.

“The parents and students have high expectations for this academic year. Our government has been working with departmental officials to improve the quality of the schools at the beginning of this academic year and we also prepared to provide the better education system for the students,” General Zaw Min Tun, a spokesperson of the Military Council said 1 June.

The total of 5,609,676 students enrolled at basic education schools, private schools, and monastic schools in respective regions and states, according to the 2 June edition of the military’s newspaper.

The number of student enrollments for the 2021-2022 Academic Year was nearly 5.3 million and increased 0.3 million this year, according to the Basic Education Schools under the Military Council.

During the civilian-led government, more than 9 million students had enrolled in the Basic Education Schools annually, according to the Ministry of Education (NUG).

According to the figures, the student enrollment rate has dropped nearly 40 per cent, comparing the figures under the junta and under the National League for Democracy-led government.

In Naypyitaw only, a total of 190,200 students are currently studying at 757 Basic Education Schools, 28 Monastic Schools and 57 Private Schools which have been reopened, according to the junta figures.