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Regime implements order to teach only Burmese
Mon 03 Jul 2006,
IMNA
An adamant Burmese military regime is going ahead with the implementation of its order to teach Burmese language instead of the ethnic language to brighter students in schools in Tenasserim Division.
Two naval officers of the rank of Majors from Rakhaing Kyun Naval Base held a meeting with the headman of Cha-pone-taw village, two teachers from the government school and two Mon teachers. They banned teaching of the Mon language in Mon and Burmese joint schools on June 27 for the second time.
“The naval officers told the Mon teachers that if they wanted to teach the Mon Language, they could teach at the Mon National School in Kywe-Thone -Nyiama village,” according to an officer from Mon Education Department.
Although Captain Soe Naing from the Rakhaing Kyun Naval base met Daw Aye Aye Than, the headmistress of the joint Mon and Burmese Middle School to stop teaching the Mon language on June 23, Mon teachers continued teaching the Mon Language in the school.
According to a teacher from Yebyu Township, the middle school in Cha-pone-taw village has only seven Mon teachers and they teach 46 students. The Mon National School has about 12 schools in Yebyu Township.
Mon and Burmese Language Mixed School has been in existence for more than ten years. Mon teachers teach the Mon language for a 45 minute period from the 5th standard to the 8th standard while Burmese teachers teach subjects such as Science, Geography, Mathematics, and Burmese in Burmese language for the remaining periods.
A Mon education officer said, “Mon teachers help in teaching at government schools when there are few government teachers. The school has increased its teacher strength over the last two years with the assistance of the naval officers.”
Currently Cha-pnoe-taw village has about 300 households and is located near the Yatana gas pipe-line.
The order to teach only Burmese language was circulated in total secrecy to the districts, townships, and other departments in May.
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