The New Light of Myanmar (Monday, 4 February, 2002)(1/2)

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The New Light of Myanmar (Monday, 4 February, 2002)(1/2)
-----------------------------------
1. - State Peace and Development Council Chairman Senior General
     Than Shwe sends felicitations to Sri Lanka
   - Buddha Image at Dhamma Mahiddhi Kyaung of Masoeyein
     Taikthit consecrated
2. Course No 13 for Basic Education Teachers open in
   Upper Myanmar
3. Secretary-1 meets first year students of UTM and trainees
   of one-year course No 4 for traditional medicine
   practitioners
4. Secretary-1 inspects development tasks in Sagaing and
   Mandalay Divisions
5. - Maj-Gen Ye Myint inspects regional development in
     Chin State
   - Maj-Gen Aung Htwe inspects regional development tasks
     in Loilem district
6. - Minister inspects bridge construction works
   - Minister arrives back from PRC & ROK
7. Minister inspects rural roads, bridges
8. Minister for Foreign Affairs sends felicitations
   to Sri Lanka
9. National Sports Competition for the Disabled opened

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( 1 ) State Peace and Development Council Chairman Senior General Than Shwe
sends felicitations to Sri Lanka

Yangon, 4 Feb - On the occasion of the Anniversary of the Independence Day of
the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka which falls on 4 February
2002, Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and Development
Council and Prime Minister of the Union of Myanmar, has sent messages of
felicitations to Her Excellency Madame Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga,
President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and to His
Excellency, Honourable Mr Ranil Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister of the
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

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Buddha Image at Dhamma Mahiddhi Kyaung of Masoeyein Taikthit consecrated

Yangon, 3 Feb-The consecration ceremony of the Buddha Image kept at
four-storey Dhamma Mahiddhi Kyaung of Masoeyein Taikthit in Mandalay and the
cash presentation ceremony for Jivitadhana Sangha Specialist Clinic of the
Taikthit were held at the four-storey Kyaung this morning, attended by
Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt.

Also present on the occasion were Nayaka Sayadaws led by Vice-Chairman of
State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Chief Patron Sayadaw of Masoeyein Taikthit
Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Bhaddanta Sirindabhivamsa, member of the State
Peace and Development Council Maj-Gen Ye Myint of the Ministry of Defence,
Chairman of Mandalay Division Peace and Development Council Commander of
Central Command Brig-Gen Ye Myint, Chairman of Sagaing Division Peace and
Development Council Commander of North-West Command Brig-Gen Soe Naing,
ministers, the Chairman of the Civil Service Selection and Training Board,
the Chief of Staff (Navy), the Chief of Staff (Air), deputy ministers, the
Mandalay Mayor, officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office,
departmental heads, members of division/district/township Peace and
Development Councils, departmental personnel, members of the Union Solidarity
and Development Associations and social organizations, lay persons and
well-wishers.

 Nayaka Sayadaws led by Vice-Chairman of State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee
Chief Patron Sayadaw of Masoeyein Taikthit Abhi-dhaja Maha Rattha Guru
Bhaddanta Sirindabhivamsa consecrated the Buddha Image, followed by the
sharing of merits gained and the cash presentation ceremony. Then, Bhaddanta
Sirinda-bhivamsa invested the congregation with the Five Precepts. Sayadaws
and members of the Sangha recited parittas.

Afterwards, the Secretary-1 and party presented offertories to Sayadaws.
Then, Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, Maj-Gen Ye Myint of the Ministry of
Defence and Commander Brig-Gen Ye Myint accepted K 11.165 million donated by
61 well-wishers including K 5 million by U Kyaw Win (Shwe Than Lwin Co), K 1
million by U Han Taing-Daw Nan Leik of Mandalay, K 500,000 by the Mandalay
City Division Peace and Development Council and the Central Command, K
300,000 by Mandalay Development Committee, K 1.15 million by local
intelligence unit family, K 500,000 by U Tun Sein-Daw Thet Mon (Gold Uni Co
Ltd), K 500,000 by U Kyaw Myint-Daw Kyi Kyi Htwe (Chanlon Jewellery Co), K
500,000 by Daw Ngwe Tin, K 200,000 by U Myo Aung (Mya Sein Yaung Restaurant),
and K 200,000 by Sayadaw U Rajinda of Singapore and Sunday Vipassana Group.

Then, Bhaddanta Sirinda-bhivamsa delivered a sermon, followed by the sharing
of merits gained for pious deeds. The ceremony ended with three-time
recitation of Buddha Sasanam Siramtitthatu. After the ceremony, the
Secretary-1 and party inspected construction of the tank and artesian well
for members of the Sangha of the Kyaungtaik.
___________________________

( 2 ) Only highly-qualified education system can help develop
highly-qualified human resources Special Refreshers

Course No 13 for Basic Education Teachers open in Upper Myanmar

Yangon, 3 Feb - A ceremony to open Special Refresher Course No 13 for Basic
Education Teachers was held at the Central Institute of Civil Service (Upper
Myanmar) in PyinOoLwin Township, this morning, with an address by Chairman of
Myanmar Education Committee Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development
Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt.

Also present were member of the State Peace and Development Council Maj-Gen
Ye Myint of the Ministry of Defence, Chairman of Mandalay Division Peace and
Development Council Commander of Central Command Brig-Gen Ye Myint, Chairman
of Sagaing Division Peace and Development Council Commander of North-West
Command Brig-Gen Soe Naing, ministers, the chairman of Civil Service
Selection and Training Board, the Chief of Staff (Navy), the Chief of Staff
(Air), deputy ministers, the Mayor of Mandalay, senior military officers,
officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office, departmental
heads, members of division, district and township Peace and Development
Councils, Rector of CICS (Upper Myanmar) Col Aung San Win and pro-rectors,
heads of department, instructors and trainee teachers.

 The Secretary-1 said that the State Peace and Development Council is making
strenuous efforts to enable the Union of Myanmar to stand shoulder to
shoulder with others by enlisting the strength of national forces. So, to
strike a balance between promotion of national education and development of
highly-qualified human resources, systematic education promotion programmes
are being set into motion. In fact, development of highly-qualified human
resources and promotion of national education are interrelated. Only the
highly-qualified education system can help develop highly-qualified human
resources; alternatively, only when there is development of highly-qualified
human resources, will national education improve all the more.

In this regard, the education reforms have started right from the basic
education sector; modern teaching methodology and new progress-monitoring
system have been introduced; curricula have been modified in accord with the
educational aims. Especially in the education sector, the government,
students, teachers and the people have been cooperating in implementing the
programmes of integrating the education system with the society.

A study of the education sector today shows that programmes designed to
improve the basic education sector have been implemented step by step; the
aims to bring about a well-rounded education, to improve education up to
international standard and to bridge the gap between rural and urban areas
are materialising. Moreover, at the third phase of the education promotion
programme, a national education promotion special four-year plan covering
both the basic education sector and the higher education sector has been
implemented.

As a result, curricula of the basic education sector has been upgraded;
e-education learning centres have been established in various parts of the
nation; education programmes can now be broadcast by use of Data Broadcasting
System in towns and cities where universities and colleges exist; professors
themselves are giving lectures. In improving the education sector in the time
of present government, the number of basic education school grew up to five
thousands. The number of students has also increased.

 As the number of students has increased more teachers have been appointed.
To improve the quality of the teachers, courses in teaching, correspondence
teaching courses, education college-based teaching courses, township-based
teaching courses, bridge courses for educational degree, educational degree
courses, postgraduate diploma in teaching courses and correspondence
educational degree courses are being conducted. Now, implementation of
education promotion programmes and national education promotion special
four-year plans is making progress to some extent.

To accelerate the rate of progress, it is necessary to access implementation
of the plans continuously and to take innovative measures where necessary. In
conclusion, the Secretary-1 called on all the teachers to strive to improve
the education standard so that the Union of Myanmar is able to stand shoulder
to shoulder with other nations, to strive for successful implementation of
the national education plans designed to develop highly-qualified human
resources who are capable of facing possible challenges of the future and to
train students to be able to use information and communication technology so
that they can become technicians and academicians.

After the ceremony, the Secretary-1 had a cordial meeting with the training
teachers. Altogether 1,003 teachers from states and divisions are attending
five-week course. Before the ceremony, Minister for Sports Brig-Gen Thura Aye
Myint presented sport gear for Central Fire Service Training School in
PyinOoLwin to Principal Col Kyi Win.
___________________________

( 3 )  Secretary-1 meets first year students of UTM and trainees of one-year
course No 4 for traditional medicine practitioners

Yangon, 3 Feb- Chairman of National Health Committee Secretary-1 of the State
Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt met first year students of
University of Traditional Medicine and trainees of one-year course No 4 for
traditional medicine practitioners at the University of Traditional Medicine
in Mandalay yesterday.

Also present were member of the State Peace and Development Council Maj-Gen
Ye Myint of the Ministry of Defence, Chairman of Mandalay Division Peace and
Development Council Commander of Central Command Brig-Gen Ye Myint, the
ministers, the chairman of Civil Service Selection and Training Board, the
Chief of Staff (Navy), the Chief of Staff (Air), the deputy ministers, the
Mandalay mayor, officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office,
heads of departments, the director-general of Traditional Medicine
Department, members of Traditional Medicine Council, Pro-rector of University
of Traditional Medicine in Mandalay U Wa Tun and faculty members and guests.

The Secretary-1 said emergence of Mandalay University of Traditional
Medicine, the first to open in Myanma traditional medicine history, is an
achievement in making efforts for development of Myanma traditional medicine.
He said the government is laying emphasis on development and propagation of
Myanma traditional medicine. The opening of such university is the strong,
basic foundation for realization of the objective to turn out highly
qualified traditional medicine practitioners, he said.

He said Myanma traditional medicine has been a genuine medical science inhe
rited from forefathers, which developed throughout the long history of the
nation and its people. Myanma traditional medicine developed amongÊ Myanmar
people in early history of Myanma culture. Various kinds of medical books,
wide traditional medical science, effective treatment and potent medicines
have been beneficial to the people in the course of Myanma cultural history
for thousands years.

 This is why Myanma traditional medicine has been proudly existed as
traditional medicine of high quality, he said. The government, he said, has
been given special encouragement to effect systematic development of
invaluable Myanma traditional medicine that can effectively be used in
promotion of health care services for the people. He said that Head of State
Senior General Than Shwe laid down guidelines on development and propagation
of Myanma traditional medicine, promotion of health care services for the
people by Myanma traditional medicine, fixing the level of Myanma traditional
medicine to achieve international standard, promotion of Myanma traditional
medicine standard and conducting research for development of western and
traditional medicine.

In accord with the guidance, project on development of traditional medicine
was drafted in the national health plan and is being implemented. The
government has enacted the traditional medicine law and the traditional
medical council law. Arrangements are being made for formation of united
Myanmar Traditional Medicine Practitioners Association in order to develop
traditional medicines systematically and to promote their qualification.

Two 50-bed traditional medicine hospitals, eight 16-bed traditional medicine
hospitals were opened in major cities in States and Divisions. Arrangements
have been made for opening of 16-bed traditional medicine hospitals in all
cities in States and Divisions for promotion of health care services of the
people. Altogether 14 District traditional treatment centres and over 200
Township traditional treatment centres have been opened and herbal plants are
conserved in nine herbal gardens.

The Secretary-1 spoke on holding of national level Myanma Traditional
Medicine Practitioners Conference, Traditional Medicine Exhibition and
seminars of traditional medicine practitioners every year and systematic
development of highly potent Myanma traditional medicine under the guidance
of the Head of State. He also said Myanma traditional medicines and treatment
were put on record through research for international acceptance. Modern
machines and techniques are now being used in production of traditional
medicines and research, he said.

 He said Myanma medicines could cure some diseases that western medicine
could not were put on record and treatment in the combination with western
medicine and traditional medicines is being carried out widely. In
encouraging traditional medicine to be in accord with the international
standard and to spread to the other countries, the government has placed
emphasis on the development of highly-efficient human resources in the Myanma
traditional medicine sector.

Therefore, in a bid to produce highly-efficient traditional medicine
practitioners, traditional medicine practitioner courses and traditional
medicine diploma courses are being conducted, and the Institute of Myanma
Traditional Medicine has been upgraded to the university so that the degree
can be conferred. The University of Traditional Medicine is covered by the
health sector of the national education promotion special four-year plan.

The University of Traditional Medicine has been built with the aim of
teaching Myanma traditional medicine, taking care of national people with
Myanma traditional medicine, integrating Myanma traditional medicine in the
health plans of the State, conducting research on potent Myanma traditional
medicines, facilitating the study of not only profound Myanma traditional
medicine but also traditional medicines from other countries, using
traditional medicine in public health care together with Western medicine and
producing traditional medicine practitioners who have medical ethics.

After undergoing a four-year training period plus a one-year apprenticeship
totalling five years, students will get B.Sc. (Myanmar Traditional Medicine).
A workshop was held to draw a curriculum for the university with the aim of
teaching the students anatomy, pathology, chemistry, biology and western
medical subjects, science subjects and research work as well as Myanma
traditional medicine.

 Pali, Sanskrit and English are also taught so that traditional medicine and
western medicine can be studied thoroughly. The basic methods for compounding
Myanma traditional medicines systematically will also be taught. Therefore,
it is believed that all need to study hard at the university, and after
getting degree, they will be able to provide health care for the people as
highly-efficient Myanma traditional medicine practitioners.

The students who will get the degree in traditional medicine need to realize
the genuine goodwill and noble aims of the State, to study hard to become
highly efficient and to serve the interests of the State and the people after
getting the degree. All need to work hard to become traditional medicine
practitioners on whom the rural people constituting 70% of the population of
Myanmar can rely and to take care of their health and fitness.

Degree courses, diploma courses and traditional medicine practitioners
courses will be conducted continuously at the university. One-year
traditional medicine practitioner courses continue to be opened. One-year
traditional medicine practitioner courses are opened in accord with the
guidance of Head of State Senior General Than Shwe with the aim of promoting
the quality of traditional medicine practitioners from all over the nation
and producing highly-efficient traditional medicine practitioners for the
people who place their reliance on traditional medicine for their health.

The trainees of the one-year traditional medicine practitioner course need to
study hard and promote their ability in order to be able to provide health
care for the people with more potent traditional medicines and more effective
remedies. In conclusion, the Secretary-1 urged all to study hard with
national determination and strive for the systematic development of Myanma
traditional medicine, to try to be able to uplift the health standard of the
people with traditional medicine and provide health care as efficient
traditional medicine practitioners and to work hard for the preservation and
flourishing of Myanma traditional medicine. After the ceremony, the
Secretary-1 had a cordial meeting with the students of the university and the
trainees of the traditional medicine practitioner course.

__________________________

( 4 ) Secretary-1 inspects development tasks in Sagaing and Mandalay
Divisions

Yangon, 3 Feb -Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen
Khin Nyunt left here by Tatmadaw flight on 2 February morning and arrived at
Mandalay International Airport in TadaU Township, Mandalay Division at 1.15
pm. He was accompanied by members of the State Peace and Development Council
Maj-Gen Ye Myint of Ministry of Defence, the ministers, the Chairman of the
Civil Service Selection and Training Board, the Chief of Staff (Navy), the
Chief of Staff (Air), the deputy ministers, officials of the State Peace and
Development Council Office, heads of department and officials.

 The Secretary-1 and party were welcomed by Chairman of Mandalay Division
Peace and Development Council, Commander of Central Command Brig-Gen Ye
Myint, Chairman of Sagaing Division Peace and Development Council Commander
of North-West Command Brig-Gen Soe Naing, Mayor of Mandalay Brig-Gen Yan
Thein, military officers and civilian officials and members of the Union
Solidarity and Development Association.

 The Secretary-1 and party, accompanied by Commander Brig-Gen Ye Myint and
Commander Brig-Gen Soe Naing, left Mandalay Airport by helicopter and arrived
at Linyin Village in Sagaing Township, Sagaing Division. They were welcomed
by Commander of No 33 LID Col Tin Tun Aung and officials.

A ceremony to hand over a new building of the basic education middle school
of Linyin Village to the Ministry of Education was held at the school at 2
pm. Present were Chairman of Myanmar Education Committee Secretary-1 Lt-Gen
Khin Nyunt and party, Commander Brig-Gen Soe Naing, Commander Brig-Gen Ye
Myint, members of Sagaing Division, District and Township Peace and
Development Councils, departmental officials, members of USDA and social
organizations, the Deputy Director-General of No 2 Basic Education Department
and officials, members of the School Board of Trustees, the headmaster and
teachers, students and band and pom pom troupes and local people. Headmaster
U Nyunt Lwin and member of Village Peace and Development Council U Nyi Nyi
formally opened the new building of the middle school. The Secretary-1
formally unveiled the signboard of the new school building. The Secretary-1
and party then inspected the new school building.

The ceremony to mark the opening of the new school building was held in the
school hall. The Secretary-1 presented 300 dozen exercise books, a generator
and a set of computer for the middle school to Headmaster U Nyunt Lwin. The
Secretary-1 presented medicines for the clinic of Linyin Village to the
nurses. Minister for Sports Brig-Gen Thura Aye Myint presented sports
equipment for the middle school to the headmaster. The Secretary-1 said that
emergence of such a middle school in Linyin Village, Sagaing Township,
Sagaing Division, is greatly beneficial to not only Linyin Village but also
the State.

 The government is implementing the educational policy of bridging the gap of
education between urban and rural areas. The upgrading of the affiliated
middle school of Linyin Village to the middle school presents a good
opportunity of pursuing education for students from Linyin Village and nearby
villages. The government is attending to the needs of all the basic primary
schools and middle schools all over the nation. It is no easy matter to
upgrade the primary school to the middle school because there are many
requirements to do so. Upgrading the school must be in accord with the set
standard, he said.

The new school building has been constructed with the donation of Joint
Shwekyin Sasanabaing Maha Withoad-dayon Waso Sayadaw of Mandalay, a native of
Linyin Village, and his disciples. The sight of the new school building,
which has emerged due to the goodwill of Waso Sayadaw, makes everybody feel
elated. The Secretary-1 called on teachers, students, townselders and parents
to make concerted efforts so that the school can produce outstanding
technicians and academicians who can serve the interest of the nation in
future. Minister for Education U Than Aung said under the national education
promotion programmes arrangements are to be made for ensuring schools to
possess due characteristics and image. Emergence of a new building for Linyin
Basic Education Middle School is the fulfilment of the requirements, he said.


 Curriculums of international standard have been amended and prescribed from
basic education to university levels for promotion of national education, he
said. In basic education sector, primary schools were upgraded to middle
schools and post-primary schools where students could learn their studies up
to sixth standard. Such progress was made due to high qualifications of the
teachers, he added.

The minister said there is at least one primary school within two miles
radius in every region. There are now a lot of good opportunities to learn
education in rural regions because of the post-primary schools. He called for
making efforts to become basic education school to be model place in the
region. Chairman of School Board of Trustees U Aung Myint reported on
presented documents related to the new building of Linyin Village Basic
Education Middle Schools to Deputy Director-General of no 2 Basic Education
Department U Khin Maung Yin. The two-storey is 130 feet long and 30 feet
wide. It has eight classrooms and was built at a cost of over K 10 million
under the supervision of the State Ovadacariya joint Shwekyin Sasanabaing
Abhidhaja Maha Ratha Gura Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta Aggiya.

 The Secretary-1 and party went to Dhamma Wihara Linyin Kyaungtaik. They paid
respects to members of the Sangha led by the State Ovadacariya joint Shwekyin
Sasanabaing Abhidhaja Maha Ratha Gura Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta Aggiya of
Maha Withokedayon Taikthit Waso Kyaung in Mandalay and presented offertories
to the members of the Sangha. Sayadaw Bhaddanta Aggiya and the Secretary-1
planted Gangaw trees in front of the building to mark the opening ceremony.
The Secretary-1 and party arrived in Mandalay.

 In the evening, a groundbreaking ceremony for construction of three-storey
PhaungdawOo monastic education school in Aungmyethasan Township, attended by
Chairman of Myanmar Education Committee Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt. Also
present were Headmaster of PhaungdawOo monastic education school Sayadaw
Bhaddanta Nayaka. member of the State Peace and Development Council Maj-Gen
Ye Myint of the Ministry of Defence, Chairman of Mandalay Division Peace and
Development Council Commander of Central Command Brig-Gen Ye Myint, the
ministers, the chairman of Civil Service Selection and Training Board, the
Chief of Staff (Navy), the Chief of Staff (Air), the deputy ministers, the
Mandalay mayor, officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office,
heads of departments, wellwishers, members of Division, District and Township
Peace and Development Councils, department al personnel, officials of No 2
basic Education Department, members of USDA, social associations, teachers
and students.

The Secretary-1 and party, Commander Brig-Gen Ye Myint and Mr Roger J Walker
on behalf of donor of the three-storey PhaungdawOo monastic education school
Mr Stephen Killelier laid the foundations at the respective places and
sprayed scented water on them. The Secretary-1 and party performed rituals of
golden and silver showers to make the success of the ceremony. The
Secretary-1 and party went to the site for construction of Ayeyawady Bridge
(Mandalay) on the bank of Mandalay. Deputy Superintending Engineer U Htay
Myint of Public Works reported on background history of the bridge, survey of
axis, preliminary engineering works, geological data, the project and
progress of work. Deputy Minister U Tin Swe gave a supplementary report. The
Secretary-1 gave instructions and inspected the axis and construction of
approach bridge on the bank of Mandladay.

The Ayeyawady Bridge (Mandalay) is being built on Khawataung bank in Mandalay
and Tagaung bank in Sagaing. It is situated 2,000 feet up the Innwa Bridge.
The steel bridge withÊ65 feet reinforced concrete approach bridge is 5,614
feet and 49 feet wide. It has two five feet walkways each. The Innwa Bridge
is over 65 years old and a new bridge is needed to build for improving
traffic and ensuring smooth flow of commodities. This is way the Ayeyawady
Bridge (Mandalay) is being built under Chairman of the State Peace and
Development Council Senior General Than Shwe. The Secretary-1 inspected
construction of main building of Yadanabon University, one of the human
resource development structures for promotion of national education. He then
gave instructions. The Secretary-1 and party spent the night at Nanmyo guest
house.
__________________________


to be continued ...