The Loi Lwam Charitable Monastic Education School in Ward 9, Wan Kawng, Tangyan Township, is facing severe shortages of food and stationery as it struggles to accommodate more than 200 orphans and children displaced by conflict, school officials report.

With student numbers rising due to ongoing turmoil in northern Shan State, the school can only afford to provide one daily meal, typically rice and vegetables, amid soaring costs and dwindling supplies.

“This year, we have over 200 orphans and displaced students, including teachers, compared to fewer last year. Due to financial constraints, meals are limited, and resources are stretched thin,” said Sai Sang Nyunt, a teacher at the school.

Currently, the school supports more than 200 boarding students from kindergarten to Grade 10. While primary-level students (KG–Grade 4) attend classes on-site, over 60 middle and high school students (Grades 5–10) study at Tangyan Township’s High School.

Beyond food shortages, the institution grapples with overcrowded dormitories, insufficient classroom space, and stagnant teacher salaries.

“As enrollment grows, meeting basic needs becomes increasingly difficult. We consume two bags of rice daily, but rising prices force us to ration meals. The bamboo dormitories, built six years ago, are now inadequate. Teachers’ salaries haven’t increased, leaving us in a dire situation,” explained Ashin Pyinyar Sarmi, the school’s headmaster.

Established in 2018 by local monks, Wong Mitta groups, and community members, the school initially served around 100 students. However, intensified military conflict in northern Shan State has more than doubled enrollment.

The crisis extends beyond Loi Lwam. Education opportunities across the region are deteriorating. According to the 2025 Grade-12 Matriculation Exam results released on July 27, only 279 of 658 students in northern Shan State passed, and the lowest success rate nationwide. Locals cite this as further evidence of the conflict’s devastating impact on education.