The Government Tried to Stop more than 13,000 Mon student from learning

Independent Mon News Agency

May 25, 2004

The Burmese military regime SPDC has tried to close down Mon National School where there are more than 13,000 Mon student attended and operated by by New Mon State Party’s Edccation Department in Ye township in order to transform them as government schools, but NMSP will oppose the attempts, NMSP spoke person said.

According to MNSP’s Teachers’ Association Chairperson Nai Kyin in northern Ye township said, “the government authorities is forcing and frightened us to close down the school. They forced us to change Mon National School to be Burmese government school.”

“It is the Burmese military government policy. On March 11, Gen-Maung Bo and Southeast Command Commander Thu Ra Myint Aung also ordered to the local authorities to close down the schools during their trip to Ye township,” Nai Kyin added.

“It is depending on the NMSP. But we won’t close our Mon National School. It is ours’ school,” Nai Kyin added.

“We do not close our school. We would not let the government teachers to teach in the Mon National School. If the government wants to teach, they should build their own school and they can teach there. We do not allow teaching at Mon National schools. It is our policy,” Nai Aye Mon, NMSP spokeperson said.

According to NMSP teachers in Southern Ye Township, where there are 30 of Mon National Schools operating said “Burmese Army’s commander Captain Htay Aung again called a meeting on May 16 to MNSP’s Central Executive Committee member for closing the school.”

In December 2003, the Burmese Army’s commander Col Myo Win from Southeast Command based in Moulmein, the capital of Mon State, also frightened to the Mon National School teachers to close their schools and he ordered to the local people to transform them as government schools.

Because of the government’s frighten, Mon National School teachers were afraid of the Burmese Army’s cruel treatment.

In March 2004, the Burmese Army has launched offensive against a Mon splinter armed group and forced some Mon monks and teachers who involved in teaching of summar Mon litracy training, to promise and sign ceasing from teaching Mon language in Southern Ye township said, Nai Min who was forced to sign.

In Ye township 67 Mon National Schools are operated by the NMSP’s Education Department with local Mon communities support. More than 7,000 Mon students are joining in Southern Ye Township’s schools and 6,000 are joining in Northern Ye Township’s schools.

In this township, the government school and NMSP Mon National School are competiting each other. Last year the number of students attending Mon National Schools were more than those who attended the government schools.

Because of the schooling cost is cheap, no requirment for additional tuition classes like students in government schools, the number of student in MNSP’s Schools are gradually increasing and some students even from the government school moved to Mon Schools, accordingly to the NMSP Education officer, Nai Aie Kon.