AMDP Voices Concern that Children in Mon State Will Lose Their Mother Language

May 28, 2014

The All Mon Region Democracy Party (AMDP) has raised concerns that Mon children throughout Burma’s Mon State will lose their mother tongue because they are only allowed to be taught the Burmese language in their schools. The AMDP is concerned that Mon children will lose their ability to speak their native language if it is not taught in schools.

At the May 21st Mon Literature Talk held in Thanbyuzayat, AMDP Chairman Nai Ngwe Thein addressed the issue that children are only learning the Burmese language at school. As this is not the Mon children’s mother tongue, the children may be forced to learn Burmese and children may be abused because it is not their native language.

Last year ethnic political parties requested the government to allow ethnic language in every Burmese school. According to Mon State government’s news, the minority Mon ethnic group has been allowed to have one subject of Mon language taught in Burmese schools this year.

After decades of Mon language instruction banned from government schools, the Mon community has finally received permission to teach their mother tongue in the classroom again. However, challenges have arisen while implementing the plan, due to budget constraints.

“Teaching Mon curriculum in Burmese schools for the 2014-2015 school year has been approved by the government, but the plan can be delayed due to salary and [supplies] for teachers which have not been [assured] yet”, said Nai Ngwe Thein.
Nai Ngwe Thein notes that it’s not enough to allow the Mon language in Burmese schools, but that it should be the major language for Mon children, with Burmese and English taught as minor languages. Nai Ngwe Thein stresses that the rest of the subjects, such as mathematics, history, geography, and science should all be taught in the Mon language.

“In the past”, explains Nai Ngwe Thein, “children in some ethnic areas could not understand or speak the Burmese language, but they had to learn it. That they have to learn a language that they don’t know means that they are being forced and their rights are being abused.”

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