Amnesty International warned today, Thursday, of the emergence of a “lost generation” in Myanmar due to the absence of financing education programs in the war -torn country.
The organization called on the United States and other governments to an urgent move to provide financing for education programs in Myanmar.
It reported that the testimonies of teachers and students gathered by the organization showed the influence left by the decision of US President Donald Trump to reduce foreign aid.
The American decision has canceled more than $ 70 million of funding for education programs in Myanmar.
“The strikes received by the education sector in Myanmar since the military coup in 2021 have deprived millions of young people of opportunities,” said Joe Freeman, a researcher at Myanmar Affairs at Amnesty International. “The American cuts are now exacerbated by the possibility of a full generation,” he added.
He added, “But there is still time to bridge this void in teaching Myanmarin students,” and stressed that governments and universities in the United States and abroad are called to “find a way to enable them to continue their studies and prevent their return to conflict areas.”
He also considered that the return of students to the conflict areas in Myanmar causes them to face the danger of “arbitrary detention, torture, abuse and forced recruitment in an army that uses violations as a military strategy.”
The organization recorded that the American -funded educational programs in Myanmar after the coup supported students to study in the universities of Southeast Asia, and provided opportunities for higher education via the Internet, in addition to providing basic education services for children in ethnic, rural and remote societies.
Freeman pointed out that the American discounts of external aid increased “mud walin”, and called on the Trump administration to back down from the decision and “not to abandon Myanmar students who are struggling to achieve their dreams despite the difficult circumstances.”
(Tagstotranslate) News (T) Freedoms (T) Asia (T) Myanmar (Burma)