A ceremony to grant a pardon to 29 student inmates who passed the matriculation examination in the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 academic years by aiming at praising their success in the exams, was held at religious hall of Mandalay Central Prison yesterday morning.

During the ceremony, Director of region Correction Department U Kyaw Soe gave greeting speech while Dr San Pa Pa Kyaw, education officer of Aungmyethazan township and Dr Thein Zaw, secretary of school’s caretaker group delivered words of advice.

Then, Deputy Director U Chan Aye Kyaw, in charge of prison granted release certificates, meal and transport charges to these 29 inmates.

Among these 29, it included 23 males and 6 females. Among 8 inmates who passed the exam in 2018-2019 academic year, it included 1 male who passed the exam with 2 distinctions while 2 females with 1 distinction and 5 males without distinction.

Among other 21 inmates who passed the exam in 2019- 2020 academic year, it included 5 males who passed the exam with 3 distinctions while 11 males with 2 distinctions, 1 male and 1 female with 1 distinction.

Then, Deputy Director U Chan Aye Kyaw, in charge of prison said, “We, officials and the teachers support those young inmates who faced imprisonment for some petty crime in their struggle of lives with partial education and they also made great efforts. So, they could enjoy such great success. We are proud of their success. Then, I also want to urge the officials to support and take care the youths who are trying hard for their lives to protect them from getting wrong way.”

Ma Khine May Oo who passed the matriculation exam in 2019-2020 academic year with two distinctions (Geography and History) and was released said, “This is all because of the warden and the teachers. As I came from a family of employees, I will also be an employee. Although I was sentenced to 12 years in prison, I am very happy to be released after 3 years. I thank all the heads of the country and teachers. I will spend my life well.”

There were 70 inmates who sat for the exam in 2018-2019 academic year in Mandalay Central Prison and 42 inmates passed, among the 69 inmates who sat for the exam in 2019-2020 academic year, 48 inmates passed. There are altogether 29 inmates who were released with amnesty from the Mandalay Central Prison; 8 inmates from 2018-2019 academic year and 21 inmates from 2019- 2020 academic year.

55 inmates passed the matriculation exam successfully in 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 academic years were released with pardon from respective prisons across the country and additional 38 inmates could enjoy parole.

Min Htet Aung (Mandalay Sub-printing house)

(Translated by Khine Thazin Han and Ei Phyu Phyu Aung)