Akyab University authorities ask students not to walk to school

Akyab: The Principal of Akyab University has requested that students who use buses to refrain from walking to school during school hours, said a student.

“The request of the principal came about after several students in Akyab were walked to Akyab University from their homes to protest against the school’s bus fare, which was recently increased by authorities after the fuel price hike,” he said.

Because many students were walking to Akyab University from their homes on August 22 to protest the school bus fare increase, the situation in Akyab became tense. Small pockets of unrest spread among the people.

Afterwards, the authority decided to reduce the school’s bus fare to the normal, previous rate, in order to avoid untoward incidents in Akyab.

The school’s bus fare was only 50 kyat from downtown Akyab to the University, but authorities increased it to 150 kyat after the fuel prices were increased. But the school’s bus fare has been reverted, the student said.

The student said the request from the Principal to the students is informal, and was made through teachers in the classrooms.

The Principal has also instructed teachers in the university to persuade students to travel by the school’s buses during school times and avoid walking from home.

Most students have accepted the Principal’s request but some are still walking to school to show their solidarity with the 88 Generation Group, who have been holding peaceful protests in Rangoon against the recent increase in fuel prices.

However, in Akyab, there are no government backed organizations to foil the plan of students walking to Akyab University as there are in Rangoon.