April 25.
Due to the strong earthquake on March 28, more than 60,000 answer sheets for the 2025 university entrance exam held at Mandalay University in Kachin, Sagaing, Mandalay, and Nay Pyi Taw were destroyed by fire, so more than 1,000 students from Sagaing Region and Kalay Township, including the 2025 university entrance exam in Kalay, are facing difficulties in re-taking the exam, according to their parents.
In Kale, a town that is home to many refugees from Chin State, 1,107 students took the 2025 university entrance exam from 3 examination centers.
Since the answer sheets from the examination centers in Kalay were destroyed by fire in the Mandalay earthquake, the university entrance exam to be held on June 16 will be held from 3 examination centers in Kalay without changing the previous examination centers.
A matriculation examination tutor in Kalay said, “Since schools in Chindaung and the surrounding areas are closed, many refugees are coming to Kalay to study. After the exams, some children travel long distances. Some return to the surrounding areas. Some even go abroad. It will be very difficult for all of them to return before the exam date. As for the students from the surrounding areas, the 50 days will be over by the time they come. They will not even have anything to study for.”
Students in Kalay who will be re-taking the exam are facing many difficulties, but they are trying hard to re-take the exam on June 16, said a student from Kalay who will be re-taking the university entrance examination.
“We have been preparing for the university entrance exam all year. Now, there are only 50 days left. My parents have been working hard and supporting me for the whole school year, so it is very difficult to put in the extra effort. The weather is very hot. There is no electricity. The situation is difficult in every way. But we continue to overcome the difficulties and try to retake the university entrance exam with our friends,” said a student from Kalay who will be retaking the university entrance exam.
YCW School, a famous private high school in Kalay, will be teaching students from their school who will be retaking the university entrance exam on June 16, starting from May 5, and those who will attend will be invited to register on their YCW Facebook page.
“The dormitories and private schools have said that they will teach again in close proximity, but it will not be free. Given the current situation in Kalay, it will cost a lot of money to run the generator. If the children are not in the dormitories, it will not be possible to run the generator for them. We will have to rely on the dormitories. I have not heard the exact situation of the school fees yet,” said a parent of a student in Kalay.
A student who fled from Chintaung to Kalay and took the entrance exam in Kalay said, “I hope that the people in charge will understand the situation. They will think about the questions that are appropriate to the difficulties that are occurring. Students will be able to study and memorize within 50 days. That is how I am feeling. Since the exam is over, I have not been able to remember the questions.”
In Kalay district, the university entrance exam will also be retaken in Kalaywa, Minkin Township was exempted from retaking the exam. Tamu Township, which borders Kalay Township, was also included in the list of exempted from retaking the exam.
