The Ministry of Education’s policy to extend primary school until the end of March is challenging teachers and parents.
Sayar Min Aung Zay, Director of the Mon National Education Committee (MNEC) said, “the curriculum has been prepared for one year until February. Since the school year is being extended until March, it could make difficulties for others, not only to our Mon summer school program but also teachers. Teachers are supposed to teach not to babysit.”
Students from the Education Colleges within various divisions and states have organized the “Green Ribbon Campaign” to oppose the plans to extend the school year.
“This has affected our Mon summer school program as well. There are hundreds of thousands of Mon children studying in government schools. There are programs to teach them Mon language during summer school break every year,” said Sayar Min Aung Zay.
Student Unions at the Hpa-An Education College and the Mawlamyine Education College have also held protests against the extension plans.
“It is right that teachers are paid, but they have to focus on their work as well. During the three-month school break period, they have to attend training. After the training, they need to work on lesson plan preparation as the new curriculum is introduced, and to align the lesson plans with the old curriculum,” said Htoo Htoo Aung, a Secretary of the Student Union of Mawlamyine Education College.
The Director General of the Department of Basic Education reported the plan to extend the school until March does not aim to change the school schedule, rather it obliges teachers to attend school until March 31st.
According to the Ministry of Education, the school year for basic education classes will operate until March 31st, except for grades 5, 9 and 11.
