18 June 2009: The Educational Director of Kalemyo, Sagaing division western Burma has demanded Kyat 25 lakhs from every private boarding school up to classes IX and 1X for this academic year in the Kalemyo area. School authorities are frustrated because of such a demand.
Earlier the tax to be paid to the government for opening a boarding school was Kyat 20 lakhs per year, but the Education Department has increased it to Kyat 25 lakhs from the 2009 academic year.
"We pay tax for operating a boarding school every year. We don't understand why the tax is increasing year after year. It must be for the additional income of the Educational Director's family," said a retired head master of Kalemyo High School.
The owners of Kalemyo boarding school met at the Golden Triangle boarding school to discuss how to bring down the annual tax. Though after the discussion they requested the authorities, it did not pay heed.
One of the owners said, "We have to increase boarding (hostel) fees on our side as the authorities are taking a lot of tax every year. We have to decide on the exact amount we need to increase."
In the previous year the boarding admission fee of a student was Kyat 5 to 6 lakhs as boarding schools are better than government schools. So many parents want to enroll their children in boarding schools for better education of their wards.
"It's quite different from government schools both in terms of teaching and learning. Indeed, the government schools do not have a good educational system, and cannot impart morals and manners. So we try to admit our children to private boarding schools," a student's parent said.
Boarding schools have been becoming popular from the year 2000. There are about 50 boarding schools in Kalemyo area. A Master’s degree holder can open a boarding school and the staff is hired at Kyat 1000 to 3000 per hour.
Government employees are not allowed to do tuition under the military government rules, but most teach in boarding schools on a mutual understanding for additional income.
