Teaching of Mon Language in Thai School
in Weng-ka Mon Village Starts Again
(Information-4)

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Information 4 | Information 5


Source: MUL Information & Research


Mon Language Teaching Program:

After one-year of teaching Mon language to Mon children in Thai government school in Weng-ka Mon village in Sangkhlaburi District of Kanchanaburi Province, now, Mon teachers are preparing to teach Mon language in another academic year 2007-2008 which begins in May 2007 and ends in March 2008.

This academic year, about 15 Mon teachers will have to take responsibility for teaching of Mon language in the classes of Kindergarten I and II, Elementary Classes (Grade I to Grade III) and Secondary Classes (Grade IV to Grade VI).  

There are over 1200 Mon children in this Wat Weng-ka Viwekaram School and there are 7 classes in Kindergarten Level and 19 classes in Elementary and Secondary levels.  Accordingly to the decision from Mon teachers, some 3 teachers will totally take responsibility for the teaching of children in Kindergarten classes along with Thai teachers. 

The Headmaster of the school advised that the children who begin schools in Kindergarten classes must communicate in ‘Mother Language’ and so that Thai teachers should be helped by Mon teachers in communication and teaching the children. 



A Mon teacher is teaching in a class (Photo Source: IMNA)

The Mon teachers who worked in the Kindergarten Levels will have to work as full-time teachers while the remaining teachers might have to work as part-time teachers. The teachers also agreed to develop a Mon language textbooks which are feasible with Thai text books and convenient for the Mon children in Thailand. 
Currently the Mon teachers who work in volunteer situation earned only 2000 Baht per month by a local Thai NGO.  Although they had worked for 10 months, they received about 3 months of salaries in the last Academic Year due to the delay of Thai NGO’s fund contribution.  Thai government’s education ministry is not really having a policy yet to pay the teachers who teach local language.

Not only Mon language is allowed to teach in government schools, but other ethnic languages in Thailand such as Karen, Kayaw, Ka-yan and other ethnic languages are allowed to teach in the school in their own communities in various areas of Thailand such as Chiang Mai, Mae Hongson and Chiang Rai Provinces.  It is a plan adopted in a Thailand’s Ministry of Education (MOE) to preserve the local languages with the advice of UNESCO’s ‘Multi-Language Education (MLE)’.  UNESCO has implemented this program in various ethnic communities in China with the supports of Chinese government. 

In March, the Thai Academics from MOE, Mahidol University, and Educational Officials from Kanchanaburi Province hold a meeting in the school and evaluated the teaching of Mon language in order to have the children to speak the Mother Language first and then learn other non-mother tones. 
During the beginning of school years, the Mon teachers have a very limited supports except an NGO who provided monthly part-time salaries and some school materials.  Mon Unity League (MUL) donated 20, 000 Baht for general expenses in meeting and creating text-books. 

Needs:

The supports needed by the Mon teachers from Mon communities around and NGOs are as below:

  • Full-time teachers in Kindergarten classes constantly need about 5000 Baht per month wage in order to carry on their teaching to the small kids for a whole day.
  • Mon textbooks need to print out for the children and therefore, they can learn Mon language at their homes.  Currently Mon teachers are developing textbooks for Kindergarten Level and Elementary Level.  Donations for printing of the textbooks will be estimated after knowing the exact price.
  • About 2 sets of computers and a printer will be needed to print for draft Textbooks, lesson plans of the teachers, meeting minutes, and other administrative purposes.
  • The Mon teachers suggest that they need to build up an office and school classes in the school compounds.  If they have office, they can operate their administrative works and teachers can take a rest during mid-day of breaks.   The classrooms will be used for special classes of Mon language teaching for those who passed Secondary Level.   Rev. Uttama built a foundation of a building in the school compound and they plan to make walls and roofs in that building.   The estimated amount of cost for building office and class rooms is not calculated yet.  It will be so expensive and need from an NGO or government agency for help. 



The Mon children are lining up to pay respect to Thai flag in the morning (Photo Source: IMNA)

Appeals by MUL:

    • It is a very good opportunity that Thai government is allowing to teach Mon language in schools while the Burmese military regime has totally prohibited it.  The Mon communities need to maintain it well because we don’t want it collapses.  Second chance will not come.  MUL is currently close working with Mon teachers group. 
    • The Mon communities in anywhere around the world need to contact NGOs, religious organizations, business groups which want to donate and support the education program of Mon people.  If some organizations want to look the situation of Mon language, please contact us, we will bring them to site to meet Mon and Thai teachers. 
    • Mon children both in Thai schools and in Mon schools in NMSP area need to improve their English language.   Therefore, the Mon communities in United States and Australia need to send unused or old children books for them.  We will bring to the schools which are in needs.  
       

    Note: MUL stands for networking the Mon Civil Society Organizations in building their capacities and coordinate with them for all activities benefit to the Mon people and reach ultimate goal of restoring Monland.