The Mon National College, under the Mon National Education Committee, will expand its teaching up to the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) level for the 2025-2026 academic year, according to college officials.
Currently, Mon National College only awards an Associate Degree upon completion of a three-year course. One specialised subject area, such as Nursing, is also offered as part of the program for students pursuing their B.A.
However, starting in August, the college plans to offer Bachelor of Arts degrees in Mon Literature and Culture, Social Sciences, and Education (with specialisations in management and teaching) for students pursuing these subjects.
According to an official from Mon National College, the demand for Bachelor’s degrees has become increasingly significant due to limited educational opportunities for young Mon people and declining trust in the government education system.
“ Currently, students who wish to pursue a B.A. are finding it difficult to continue because the quality of government institutions has declined. The B.A. program we are opening must meet the necessary standards. It is important that these students have opportunities for further education and employment without facing difficulties, which will make things easier in the long term,” said the Academic Coordinator of Mon National College.
Details on the course duration, curriculum, opening dates, and tuition fees for the expanded education system will be announced soon through the college’s social media pages.
As of now, ten students have registered for Mon literature and cultural studies, twelve students for social science, and twenty-two students for teacher training. Students from Batch 1 and Batch 2 can also register for the program, according to the official.
Moreover, Mon National College is planning to facilitate further education for students who complete their B.A. degrees by establishing partnerships with international universities, including through Memoranda of Understanding (MOUS) for advanced studies, allowing students to pursue Master’s degrees.
“For us, the opening of the B.A. program is a great opportunity. For example, if I want to study Mon literature and culture extensively, it wasn’t easy to do so elsewhere, but now that the program has been opened here, it’s very convenient. It’s also not just about theory here; there will be plenty of practical learning, which is a great opportunity for us,” said a student from Mon National College.
In 2024, Mon National College signed four MOUS with prestigious universities, including Chiang Rai Rajabhat University (CRRU) in Thailand, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University in Bangkok, and Indiana Tech University in the United States, to establish higher education collaborations.
Mon National College was established in 2022 in the NMSP-controlled area of Mon State and operates under the Mon National Education Committee (MNEC). The college offers a dual-degree program with seven main subjects: Social Science, Education (with specialisations in management and teacher training), Leadership and Management, Mon Literature and culture, Mass Media and Journalism, Nursing, and Information Technology (IT).
