More than 200 ethnic Shan delegates attended a seminar to discuss how to develop Shan language curricula at government schools in Shan State.
With more than six million people, the Shan are the largest ethnic minority in Burma. Their language is similar in spoken form to modern Thai. However, nowadays a minority of Shans read or write their alphabet due to decades of military rule when Shan language was banned in schools in favor of the majority Burmese language. We want our children to learn our language, and we are worried that it is in danger of disappearing,” A delegate pointed to oft-quoted UNESCO research stating that it is imperative to allow children to learn their native tongue before tackling a second language.
Nai Sunthorn, a leading Mon language teacher based in Sangkhlaburi, western Thailand, said he too agreed with the UNESCO doctrine. “We have even found within our community here in Sangkhlaburi that the children who learn their mother tongue Mon become better performers at school,” he said. According to statistics from the Mon National Education Department, there are currently 156 Mon-language schools in Mon State, while 116 schools offer a mixed curriculum of Burmese and Mon language lessons. There are currently around 17,000 Mon students and 800 teachers in Mon State.