Thousands of Karen students from as many as 370 schools in Pago [Pegu] Division can now officially learn their mother tongue thanks to a new program launched by Pago Division’s Literacy and Cultural Committee in cooperation with the Pago Division’s Education Department.
Saw Jubilee San Hla, the Minister of Karen Ethnic Affairs in Pago Division, told Karen News that the S’gaw Karen language would be taught in all government primary schools in Pago Division starting in the 2014-2015 school year. However, Karen will only be taught at primary schools where Karen students are in the majority.
“The number of Karen students is more than 40,000 in approximately 370 schools in the Pago Division. We have arranged for them to be taught the Karen language. Teaching materials and textbooks have also been distributed. Some schools in some Townships will arrange to find teachers but for others we will have to arrange to find the teachers for them.”
Minister Saw Jubilee San Hla explained that Karen Culture and Literacy Committees have been set-up in 15 townships in the western and eastern parts of Pago division to support Karen-language teaching. The committees have already provided Karen-language refresher courses for teachers in Nyaunglebin, Kyaukgyi, and Shwegyin Townships, while teachers from Htantabin and Kawa Townships have successfully completed more comprehensive courses in S’gaw Karen. Minister Saw Jubilee San Hla said the refresher courses would be provided on an ongoing basis as necessary.
Saw Sha Mwe La, a member of Letpandan Township’s Karen Culture and Literacy Committee, told Karen News that discussions would be held at a later date to determine how to teach Karen at schools were Karen students were in the minority.
Speaking to Karen News, Saw Sha Mwe La explained: “There are ethnic Karen students studying in more than 30 schools in Letpandan Township in western Pago Division. However, the Karen language will only be taught at 11 schools that have a majority of Karen students. Some of the schoolteachers who graduated from the Bible School with strong Karen literacy skills [have been assigned to teach at these schools]. This assignment has been approved by the District Education Department officials.”
Before the Pago [Pegu] Division government decided to start providing funding for Karen-language teachers, 26 schools in Nyaunglebin Township had already raised money on their own to teach Karen to more than 1,200 students during the 2013-2014 academic year.
