By Zwe Ko / MPA

Following the State Administration Council (SAC)’s announcement that a nationwide population census will be conducted for the 2025 elections, non-CDM education staff have been assigned to carry out the census, according to sources from non-CDM education staff.

After Senior General Min Aung Hlaing declared that a nationwide population census would be taken from 1 to 15 October, 2024, non-CDM education staff were forced to participate, a teacher from Thayarwaddy Township reported.

“Not everyone is required to attend, but one or two from each school, and about four from urban schools, have been selected. Initially, they had to attend training. Since being selected, they are unable to skip the training. If they do not attend, they are threatened with punishment. The training is being conducted in urban schools,” the teacher said.

Additionally, a female teacher from Letpadan Township said that despite SAC’s promise of full security, the situation is still not conducive for carrying out census duties.
“They promised security, but it is not a situation where we feel safe. No one is willing to attend the training. Some have even paid money to school principals and department heads to avoid attending. In some schools, the selection process for training participants was done by drawing lots. Everyone is distressed, and no one is enthusiastically participating in the training,” the female teacher said.

A political activist from Thayarwaddy Township noted that the public is also fearful about SAC’s plans to conduct the nationwide census.

“People are more worried about providing their household information to the military council than about the election itself. Families with young people are particularly concerned. They fear that the military council might use the census to conscript their children for military service, especially those nearing military service age. Some families are anxious because their sons or husbands are not at home, as they have gone abroad for work—mostly illegally—and they fear that this will lead to trouble,” he explained.

In Okpho and Gyobingauk townships, non-CDM education staff have been pressured to attend census training by SAC Army and school principals. Hero Guerilla Force-Gyobingauk, 5th company of no.3801 Battalion of People Defense Force- Thayarwaddy District, posted warning letters at schools in these areas, the company commander, Moe Kyo, told MPA.

“We have already issued warnings to around 20 schools in Okpho and Gyobingauk townships, urging them not to pressure subordinate teachers to attend the training. If the situation worsens, we will take strict action. Since posting these notices, the issue of training has calmed down slightly over the past few days,” he said.

Despite the severe flooding affecting many parts of Myanmar, resulting in deaths and damage to homes, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing urged flood-affected citizens to return home quickly so that the census can be conducted.

Furthermore, at a 6 September 2024, meeting on population and housing census operations, Vice Chairman of SAC, Senior General Soe Win, stated that the public must participate in the census collection.