10 Standard students forced to study through the night

January 18, 2010

WCRP: 10 standard students required to pay 5000 kyat (4.95 USD) per month to attend an all night study program in Khaw-Zar sub-township, Mon State.

The fee covers the costs of using the school after normal hours, petrol for the generator, and materials. Regular school hours are from 9am to 3pm and the compulsory program is from 6pm to 6am, Monday thru Friday. Students return home on the weekends and during break periods.

According to local sources, teachers from the Basic Education High School independently undertook the program two years ago in hopes of improving test scores. Last year only 3 of the 22, 10 standard students passed the March final exam, which helps determines future college placements.

Local sources told WCRP that last year, Khaw-zar Sub-township Peace and Development Council Chairman, Kyaw Moe, provided a couple rooms in the USDA office for the night study program. Additionally he supplied State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) soldiers, petrol for the building’s generator, and extra electricity. No support, financial or material, was provided for the program this year.

Financial support for this year’s program may have been withheld because last year some of the 10 standard students had problems with the patrolling SPDC soldiers.

Students reported that while they were sleeping soldiers threw stones through open windows and on one occasion entered their sleeping quarters. This year an ongoing rotation of 3 parents stay with the students during the night study program.

In neighboring Ye Town, 10 standard students from Basic Education High School 1 have the option of attending a night study program, but it is not required. “I only attended the program for one day … now I study at home. I think it is better [to study at home] because students were too talkative at the night study program,” said a student from Ye town.

As WCRP, Independent Mon News Agency (IMNA) and various other news organizations have reported, extended school hours, to help students prepare for 10 standard final exams, have been mandate in several areas throughout southern Burma.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under News