Following the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Sagaing on March 28, the main building of Mandalay University suffered structural damage and subsequent fires. These fires resulted in the destruction of approximately 400,000 answer sheets from the 2024-2025 university entrance examinations that were being stored in the building. The destroyed answer sheets included 280,940 sheets from 46,944 students in Mandalay Region, 43,827 sheets from 7,311 students in Sagaing Region, and 52,189 sheets from 8,699 students in Kachin State.
Due to the loss of these examination materials, authorities are now planning to conduct re-examinations for students from Mandalay Region, Sagaing Region, Kachin State, and Naypyidaw Union Territory. In Mandalay, schools have informed parents that students will be required to attend two weeks of intensive classes beginning May 1st before retaking their examinations. Both students and parents, already dealing with the psychological impact of the earthquake, have expressed concerns about having to retake the examinations. The situation has created additional stress for students who are still coping with the trauma of the natural disaster while now facing the prospect of repeating their university entrance examinations.
