Teachers demand money for students to enter exam

_{By Hseng Khio Fah (Tel: +66-80-1260076)}

On 2nd of February, some teachers from No.1 High School asked students from primary to high school level to pay money in order to get the permission to sit for and pass their exam in March which is the month students in Burma sit for examination. 

The fees are demanded by teachers Daw Kyi Kyi Soe, Daw Moe Thandar Hla, Daw Mizzu Aye and the Headmaster U Too Maung.  If students fail to pay, they will not only fail the exam for this year but also for the coming year, 2009, said Sai Soe Thant (not his real name), an uncle of a student.  He said that the news came from his younger sister, a mother of 3 sons attending in that school, and requested him to tell all the media outlets in Thailand to publish this news. 

“Students from Kindergarten to 4th Standard must pay 300 (US $ 9.4) Baht for each subject and students have to take 6 subjects per year.  Also, they have to pay in advance for 2 years (2008 and 2009).  So, it comes to 3,600 Baht (US $ 113).  As for middle and high school, (from 5th Standard to 10th Standard), the fee is 500 (US $ 16) Baht per subject and for two years, it reaches to 6,000 Baht (US $ 188). Every student must pay,” he continued.

“Even parents with one child complain. It is worse for those who have 3 or 4 children. They want their children to quit studying. If it is the case then these poor kids will face school interruption even for their basic education,” said a student parent who wishes to remain anonymous.

Headmaster U Too Maung had already announced the deadline (February the 10th) for the exam fees to be paid because there is no formal classes in March as it is preparation time for students. But students from No.2 High School do not have to pay anything he continued.

“The teachers and headmaster who are asking the fees come from central Burma. But the Headmaster of No.2 Standard High School is a native of Shan State and he doesn’t ask any money,” commented a relative of a 10th standard student.  The No.2 High School is located the opposite of the well-known Two Dragons Monastery.

“Do you know how hard we tried and invested money to become a teacher at this school? We had to pay Kyat 150, 000 (US $ 125) to the authorities,” a teacher was said to have told to her students while teaching them at the private tuition class at her house. 

Both No.1 and No.2 High School have more than 2,000 students each and No.1 school is known to be for wealthier families.  The population of Tachilek is more than 72,000, according to a local publication and it is located opposite of Thailand’s Mae Sai.