“We only receive 20,000 Kyat (800 Baht) per month for our salary compare that to a migrant worker who can earn 20,000 Kyat in three days. As for me, I have been a teacher here for about 16 years. Even though I make so little, I still teach here because it is my interest,” said the Headmistress of the Paline Japan village school in the NMSP-controlled area.

Small wages result in difficulty attracting new teachers, and those already employed are more prone to quit.

Mi Pakao Htaw, a teacher at Paline Japan School said, “Sometimes we are paid just once every two to three months, so the village headman and villagers support us with 250 Baht and 15 kilograms of rice per month. We really have to manage our spending.”

The Mon National Education Committee (MNEC) pays the salaries for Mon teachers and in 2011 increased the salary to 20,000 Kyat.

“We wanted to increase the pay for our Mon teachers, but did not have any donors and did not have enough money. We have been looking for new funding, and last month secured a new donor,” said MNEC committee member Nai Aie Kon.

“By March 2013, we plan to increase the salary to 60,000 Kyat per month.”

In 2012, the MNEC transferredthe administration of 145 Mon National Schools to the Center for Mon Culture and Literature Committee inside Burma, including those in Thanphyuzayatt, Mudon, Kyar inn sei kyi, Kaw Ka rate, Kyite Ma yaw, and Pha Ann Townships.

Dr. Min Kyi Win, the chairman of the Center for Mon Culture and Literature Committee said, “The schools from the MNEC were entrusted to us, and we also have difficulties paying teacher salaries, so now we are trying to find the funds.”

In the past, Burmese government schools in Mon state have paid primary school teachersat least 43,000 Kyat per month. This year, in April, the government named 85 townships along the Thai-Burma border to be part of a “Special Area” in which salaries for local government officials and teachers were raised. In Three Pagodas Pass, primary teachers are paid a minimum of 116,000 Kyat per month.