The number of college dropouts in Hyesan, Yanggang Province, has been increasing since last year due to economic difficulties caused by the closure of North Korea’s border, Daily NK has learned.
“The number of dropouts from universities in Hyesan has been increasing this year,” a source in Yanggang Province told Daily NK on Monday. “Many students gave up on college because they could not overcome their own economic difficulties and the lack of food resulting from the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.”
Specifically, the number of students who have withdrawn from the Yangang University of Technology has been continuously increasing since last year, he added.
While there were five to seven dropouts per class in 2021, there have been more than ten students per class who have not returned from the winter break or have officially declared withdrawal this year so far. The source added that the situation at the nearby Hyesan University of Mining is similar.
Most students who have given up on college are either those from rural areas living in school dormitories or discharged soldiers. Many are voluntarily choosing withdrawal from school on account of their poor financial situations.
Many university students in Hyesan have long covered their college fees by carrying luggage in train stations or working as couriers for smugglers. The source said that restrictions on inter-regional movement, combined with a decrease in smuggling between North Korea and China, have made it difficult for students to earn money.
One third-year student at the Yanggang University of Technology, surnamed Chae, had received financial help from his parents during the first year of the pandemic. This year, however, he decided to give up on college after seeing that his entire family was struggling to support him, the source said.
“University students are burdened every day with various economic tasks, such as supporting the construction of houses in Pyongyang, the construction work in Samjiyon, and even the Korean People’s Army,” the source said, adding, “It is difficult for anyone to afford college if they have to pay RMB 30 to 50 [USD 4.75 – 7.92] almost everyday.”
According to the source, many students have tried to “self-sufficiently” raise money for college over the past two years, but have ultimately been forced to abandon their studies.
“Given these circumstances, young people are imploring that the border blockade be lifted,” he added.
Translated by Youngheon Kim
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