The First State Hluttaw held its 10th Regular Session over three days during the first week in December, during which Dr. Aung Naing Oo, Hluttaw Representative of Chaungzone Township’s constituency no. 1, asked questions concerning the instruction of ethnic languages in Mon State.
Minister Dr. Min Nwe Soe, who also acts as Director of Culture, responded by providing statistics of ethnic language instruction in Mon State from the past two years.
“Last year, across [Mon] State, there were 4,505 students learning S’gaw Karen language but 9,222 students this year; 363 students learning Po Karen last year, but 3,050 students this year; 1,665 students learning Pa’O last year, but 1,370 students this year; 20,095 students learning Mon last year, but 19,369 this year,” said Dr. Min Nwe Soe.
Although there is a large number of students learning ethnic languages in Mon State, only a very few number of ethnic-language teachers are supported by the government; the majority of ethnic language teachers receive their salaries from respective ethnic groups.
According to the Minister, there were 32 ethnic language teachers supported by the government during the 2013-2014 academic year, while 82 teachers are receiving support from the government this year. In reality, however, those 82 teachers have yet to receive any support from the government for this academic year.
“At present, in Chaungzone Township, there are more than 80 [ethnic language] teachers teaching at 37 schools. But, they have not received any support yet,” said Dr. Aung Naing Oo.
The Minister continued that on October 30th, the No. 1 Basic Education Ministry was requested to allocate 17,382,000 kyat for the support of the 82 ethnic language teachers in Mon State. When the ministry distributes the support, they will do it in total, all at once.
According to records from the Mon National Education Committee of the New Mon State Party, there are more than 800 Mon teachers, teaching more than 30,000 students, at 142 Mon national schools and 107 integrated schools, in Mon and Karen States and the Tenasserim Division in this 2014-2015 academic year. Of all students and teachers, more than half are located in Mon State.
As with Mon language, the ethnic languages of S’gaw Karen, Po Karen, and Pa’O are being taught with their plans and support.
In Mon State alone, S’gaw Karen is taught in Bilin, Chaungzone, Thanbyuzayat, and Ye Townships; Po Karen is taught in Bilin, Paung and Kyaikmayaw Townships; Pa’O is taught in Bilin, Thaton, and Paung Townships; while Mon is taught in Paung, Moulmein, Chaungzone, Kyaikmayaw, Mudon, Thanbyuzayat, and Ye Townships
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In June 2014, Minister Dr. Min Nwe Soe met with committees of ethnic teaching negotiation, township education administrators, and school principals and teachers, where discussion was held regarding the teaching of ethnic languages at primary-level state schools.
