The Mon National Education Committee (MNEC) operating under the New Mon State Party (NMSP) has announced that it will open a Mon National College.
Currently applications to the new college are being distributed online.
According to Sayar Min Aung Zay, the MNEC decided to open a Mon National College next semester so that students who have passed 10th grade from various Mon national schools could continue their education at international universities.
He said, “We decided to hold a meeting to open a college to upgrade our national education. If they get a certificate from this college, they will be able to study at international universities. We also aim to allow children who have passed 10th grade from high school and did not enter the government censorship department to study abroad.”
Currently, there are more than 140 Mon National schools, including primary, middle, high school and post-high school (Post-10), with about 20,000 students.
“It is a bit difficult to go to an international university because the education system in Myanmar only goes up to 10th grade. We have not been able to open a college like this before, ” said Sayar Min Aung Zay.
The three-year Mon National College offers courses in Mon literature, culture history. In addition there will be courses in English, computer science, world history, social, environmental, research and logic.
Sayar Min Aung Zay said, “I think the current education system in Myanmar is not good enough for Mon people. I can no longer live like this. The college we are going to open is a preparation for a federal state.”
Since the first ceasefire between the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) and the New Mon State Party (NMSP), 10th grade students from the Mon National School have been allowed to take the government university entrance exam since 1996. Students who pass the matriculation examination are allowed to attend various government universities.
