Teachers and parents are concerned that primary school students transferring from Mon National Schools may face difficulties taking the Placement Test required for admission to government schools.
For the 2026–2027 academic year, students seeking to transfer from Mon National Schools to government basic education schools must sit for a Placement Test beginning on June 15.
A teacher at a Mon National School said that although the curriculum is similar, differences in the language of instruction could create challenges for primary school students.
“Students who completed Grade 2 and are moving to Grade 3 have studied mainly in the Mon language. At Mon National Schools, primary students are taught all subjects in Mon. They may find it difficult to answer subjects such as mathematics in Burmese. If they fail the test, they may have to repeat the same grade,” the teacher said.
The teacher added that issues related to student transfers between the two education systems have often been discussed during periods of administrative change, and that the Mon National Education Department plans to hold discussions on the Placement Test requirement.
A source close to the education community said the Placement Test policy had existed under previous governments for students transferring into the government school system.
“Students entering government schools were originally required to take this kind of test. Later, it was not always enforced. The purpose was to help students outside the formal school system return to school. Whether this is a return to the original policy is difficult to say,” the source said.
Currently, students transferring between private schools and government schools are not required to take a Placement Test.
Speaking at an MNEC discussion forum, Min Aung Zay said the issue lies with the system rather than the students’ abilities, and that efforts would be made to address the problem.
The Placement Test will be held from June 15 to June 20 at township examination centres. Applications were required to be submitted by June 5, according to an announcement by the military junta.
The Ministry of Education said students who pass the Placement Test will be allowed to enrol in government basic education schools for the 2026–2027 academic year.
Mon National Schools also reported that the number of students transferring this year to urban government schools, private schools, and boarding schools remains at a normal level.
