Though the Mon, Karen and Paoh languages will be taught in Mon State schools from June there are still no plans to teach the Arakan language during school hours in Arakan State schools.
U Maung Tharya the assistant director of the Arakan State Education Department said: “We have already been teaching the Arakan language for two years, but not during school hours, only outside regular school hours. Currently teaching it during regular school hours is not yet on the timetable.”
At the Teaching Ethnic Languages meeting held on 6 May U Thet Win, the Minister of Burman National Race Affairs in Mon State said that Mon, Karen and Paoh languages will be taught during school hours in Mon State from June.
When Narinjara News asked U Maung Tharya if teaching the Arakan language outside of school hours would be effective he said: “Since it is their mother tongue children are interested in it. Because they are able to learn it easily the results are good. Currently the language is being taught before and after school time in townships that include Thandwe and Gwa townships.”
He said that if the Arakan language is to be taught during school hours the matter would have to be discussed with higher authorities.
Though a curriculum for teaching the Arakan language to primary school children has already been prepared and drawn up teachers have no permission to teach it during school hours, so it has not been well taught or very successful.
Translated by Aung Myat Soe English version written by Mark Inkey for BNI
