Funding crisis forces closure of self-reliant schools offering free education in Arakan State

The Lin Yaung Chi Foundation, which provides free education to more than 2,000 children across three townships in Arakan State, has halted operations due to funding shortages.

The Lin Yaung Chi Foundation used to operate schools offering free education from kindergarten to grade 9 to 2,016 children—mostly internally displaced persons (IDPs)—in Pauktaw, Ponnagyun, and Rathedaung townships under Arakan Army (AA) control.

“Right now, some of the schools have already had to close because the foundation is barely receiving any donations. A few are still managing to operate with loans, but with the ongoing funding shortage, all of the free schools could end up shutting down completely,” said a foundation official.

Because of funding constraints, some schools have closed, leaving the foundation able to provide free education to only 1,687 of its 2,016 students.