More youths in the capital learn Mon
Despite the banning of Mon literacy, the numbers of Mon youth attending summer literacy class in the capital city of Mon State is on the rise
Despite the banning of Mon literacy ordered by Southeast
Military Command, issued last year in November, the numbers of Mon youth attending
summer literacy class in the capital city of Mon State is on the rise.
500 students have attended Mon literacy training sponsored by the Moulmein Literature and Culture Committee (MLCC) of Mon State. The graduation ceremony for students attending the classes was held on May 25, 2003 and about 200 intellectual, civil servants, students and special guests joined the ceremony, reported the source from Moulmein.
The students successfully completed their study conducted by the Committee for one-month training and many were enthusiastic to learn their national literacy and heritage, said a committee member who organized the training. The course started on April 25 and the closing ceremony was held at Mon Community Centre (Dhamma Salar), Daing-Won-Gwin at the capital of Mon State.
The Chairman of organizing committee, Nai Seik said, “During this year, the Mon literacy course arranged by our committee offered classes to over 200 students in Moulmein but over 300 students turned out to attend the classes, a hundred students also showed up at the Chaung-zone Township. We are very happy to see more students attending in Chaung-zone after 3 years of training.” Since 1989, Moulmein MLCC has sponsored the literacy training for those who voluntarily want to learn the Mon language. This year the Committee provided 5 classes in Moulmein and 6 classes in Chaung-zone Township.
Although the Committee asked permission to the Mon State SPDC authorities to allow the teaching of Mon, the authorities never answered their request for official permission to do so, reported the source.
The project is self-funded and supported by the Mon community, the committee continues to provide education to the students but the military intelligence sometimes comes around and threatens the organizers to close down their summer classes.
The Burmese authorities have enforced the ban on the teaching of Mon language in schools. An order was issued by Mawlamyine based Southeast Military Command in November 2002 to stop the teaching of the Mon language at government schools, several schools in Mawlamyine and Kyaik Ma-Yaw townships have stopped teaching Mon following the order.
However, the Mon educational system is well established under the New Mon State Party’s control area, three High Schools were established in the strong hold areas with over 900 teachers.
500 students have attended Mon literacy training sponsored by the Moulmein Literature and Culture Committee (MLCC) of Mon State. The graduation ceremony for students attending the classes was held on May 25, 2003 and about 200 intellectual, civil servants, students and special guests joined the ceremony, reported the source from Moulmein.
The students successfully completed their study conducted by the Committee for one-month training and many were enthusiastic to learn their national literacy and heritage, said a committee member who organized the training. The course started on April 25 and the closing ceremony was held at Mon Community Centre (Dhamma Salar), Daing-Won-Gwin at the capital of Mon State.
The Chairman of organizing committee, Nai Seik said, “During this year, the Mon literacy course arranged by our committee offered classes to over 200 students in Moulmein but over 300 students turned out to attend the classes, a hundred students also showed up at the Chaung-zone Township. We are very happy to see more students attending in Chaung-zone after 3 years of training.” Since 1989, Moulmein MLCC has sponsored the literacy training for those who voluntarily want to learn the Mon language. This year the Committee provided 5 classes in Moulmein and 6 classes in Chaung-zone Township.
Although the Committee asked permission to the Mon State SPDC authorities to allow the teaching of Mon, the authorities never answered their request for official permission to do so, reported the source.
The project is self-funded and supported by the Mon community, the committee continues to provide education to the students but the military intelligence sometimes comes around and threatens the organizers to close down their summer classes.
The Burmese authorities have enforced the ban on the teaching of Mon language in schools. An order was issued by Mawlamyine based Southeast Military Command in November 2002 to stop the teaching of the Mon language at government schools, several schools in Mawlamyine and Kyaik Ma-Yaw townships have stopped teaching Mon following the order.
However, the Mon educational system is well established under the New Mon State Party’s control area, three High Schools were established in the strong hold areas with over 900 teachers.
