Ethnic language teachers from government schools in Kalay Town, Sagaing Region are facing a salary cut to buy furniture for the schools, Falam Literature and Culture Committee’s chair U Khaw Tuah Lal told the Chin World on February 12.
Chin languages - Hakha, Falam, Tedim, Hualngo, and Lusei (Mizo) – are being taught in over 50 schools in Kalay Town and the teachers only receive around Ks 30,000 per month at the rate of Ks 3,600 for one hour per day.
“The principals are cutting off the salaries of the ethnic language teachers to buy furniture, which are needed for the schools. Some of them ask for ‘tea money’ because the salaries are only issued with their signatures. The teachers don’t receive full salaries. There are headmasters who are taking advantage [of the ethnic language teachers],” said U Khaw Tuah Lal.
“We will consult with the township education officer to take action against those that are taking advantage of the Chin language teachers. We will consult with the Ethnic Affairs Minister. If it’s still not enough, we plan to [report] to the union-level in Naypyidaw. Actually, the headmasters have the duty to provide better support to the teachers,” he continued.
Ethnic languages have been taught in the schools since 2016-2017 academic year and some teachers are still unable to receive their salaries.
“The government provides the salaries to teach ethnic language in some rural schools after it was enacted by the Hluttaw. In some rural areas, respective language and cultural groups provide the salaries. In some schools, the headmasters don’t attend the schools so the ethnic language teachers became slackening and they don’t teach,” U Khua Tuah Lal added.
Ethnic literature and languages are taught in over 50 schools in Kalay Township. Falam language is taught in 52 schools, Tedim language is taught in over 30 schools, Hualngo language is taught in over 15 schools, Lusei (Mizo) language is taught in seven schools, and Hakha language is taught in 13 schools.
