Students and their parents were disappointed by teachers’ demands

February 17, 2011

WCRP: In Mon State, Ye township, the teachers from No (1) the Basic Education Middle School, often charged money from their students. Not only the students but also their parents are penniless and unable to give teachers money.

Face with their own poverty, at the age of about 35 years old, one of the parents said –

“I am so disappointed with the teachers from the school. They always charge money fiendishly. This year is lucky for the people who have Rubber plants because Rubber is a very good price in this year. The people who haven’t got Rubber plants are in difficulty. But they still are demanding money from the children for the school’s festival. Ah, I don’t want my child to attend the school for the next year” she said with dignity.

Recently, the teachers charged the students (5000) Kyat for general expenses. Although some of the students haven’t paid yet, they are continuing to charge money for the festival. One 6 years old student from that school, in Grade 2 said—

“Our teacher said, tomorrow you have to give us 900 Kyat per student, for the festival 700 Kyat, donation for the monks 100 Kyat and the next one is donation for the nun 100 Kyat. The total is 900 Kyat “said the child.

Another student from that school, age 10 years old, in Grade 4 said —

“Before, I just could pay them 5000 Kyat for the general expenses. Now the teachers charge 900 Kyat for the festival on top of that I also want to dance in the festival but the teachers said , the people who want to dance in the festival, have to pay 15000 Kyat, so I must not dance, because my mum can’t give me all that money ” said unhappily.

Of now, teachers charging money from the students is a convention of all schools in Ye township.

In the school, they have to pay money to buy accessories the school; there are the water pots, mugs, plates, brooms, vases, filtered water, flowers, and trashes etc. They have to buy snacks that the teachers sell. Even if snack sales are lacking the students have to buy them anyway.

This is happening, not only in No (1) the Basic Education Middle School but also in the other school in Ye township.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under News