Ministry of Education doesn’t support ethnic language course materials

July 3, 2022

HURFOM: In the 2022-23 academic year, the Ministry of Education will not support “Ethnic Language Curriculum Books” for Non-Burmese students attending government schools in Mon State.

As a result there are difficulties teaching ethnic language courses.

“We haven’t had (ethnic language) curriculum books since the opening of school. We don’t know whom we can report this too. The headmaster/mistress claims it isn’t their duty. When talking with the Mon Literature and Culture Committee, the committee said the Ministry of Education is responsible,” said an ethnic language schoolteacher from Mudon Township.

When the National League for Democracy was the government, ethnic language books were published with the support from UNICEF. However that is no longer the case.

“As far as I know, the budget for publishing ethnic language books doesn’t come from the Ministry of Education. The books were published with the help of donors like UNICEF. The books had never been published with government support. Also in the 2022-23 academic year, the Ministry of Education hasn’t allocated a budget for publishing ethnic educational materials. They also don’t have money. That’s why we’re in trouble,” said a member of the Mon Literature and Culture Committee.

In Mon State, Mon, Karen and Pa’O languages have been taught in government schools.

According to statistics from the 2021-22 academic year, 270 government schools offered Mon language courses, 273 government schools which offered Karen language courses and 30 government schools which offered Pa’O language courses.

Written by Modinator · Filed Under News