About 125 teachers from among 165 invitees attended the training programme for primary teachers between April 22 and May 18 in Thantlang Township, Chin state, a local said.

"It is not fair at all as we the teachers have no side income" said one teacher who attended the programme.

The teachers had a number of reasons to be absent from the training, especially during summer vacation (March to May). They need to support their family and that is a time they spend with their family and attend to their needs.

The teachers in border areas work as daily labourers in Mizoram, India to earn during school vacations.

"The market price is going up and one month's salary of Kyat 30,000 is not enough to sustain us. Why do they have to have training sessions during vacations? They scheduled the training in summer because they know there will be absenteeism," a teacher said.

The authorities should have the training during school session. They feel that during holidays some teachers would go for side income during holidays, the teacher added.

During the training Mr. Thla Tin Thang, a middle school teacher from Thantlang gave a lecture and the authorities gave Kyat 5,000 to every trainee as pocket money.

In Falam town, Chin state had the training programme for middle school teachers in May, but it is not yet confirmed how many attended the training and what taken action was taken against absent teachers. – KNG.