In an unprecedented move, inmates at Mandalay’s Obo prison who passed this year’s matriculation exams have been given permission to pursue a university degree.
At the end of the 2016-2017 academic year, a total of 11 inmates at Obo prison were allowed to take the nationwide matriculation exam, which determines entry into university. Of the 11, seven passed, with five of them earning distinctions.
Obo authorities announced that a ceremony would be thrown for the students and their teachers at the end of this month to celebrate all of their hard work.
Still, it was unclear if the inmates would actually be allowed to continue their education.
However, according to The Voice, authorities have confirmed that the seven inmates will be able to enroll as students at Mandalay’s Yadanabon University, although they won’t actually be attending classes at the university itself. Instead, as students in their distance learning program, professors from the university will come to the prison and teach their classes there.
According to the Ministry of Education, 16 of the 41 inmates from Obo, Insein, Tharyarwaddy and Hpa-an prisons who sat this year’s matriculation exams passed.
Upon receiving her examination results, one student at Obo prison who passed with three distinctions told The Irrawaddy: “I pray every day that the government officials will award us with a special chance to go to university like other students do.”
It looks like her prayers have been answered.
