Ethnic Kachin students discriminated against by Burman teachers

Written by KNG

09 June 2008 - In what smacks of racism ethnic Kachin students in Northern Burma were discriminated against during the countrywide government high school examinations between March 11 and 21 by Burman school teachers who hail from lower Burma, local sources said.

The discrimination was against students entering the tenth standard examination rooms in the high school in Nao Mong (Naw Mung) city in Putao District where the Rawang tribe is dominant but most school teachers are Burmans from lower Burma, local people told KNG.

According to residents of Nao Mong, U Thein Saung, Burman Education chief of Nao Mong and other Burman teachers strictly checked all high school examinees. They took off their clothes at the entrance to the class rooms and said "They are not of our nationality (Burmans). They are Rawangs."

Two boys from Hkawnglanghpu City who had their clothes taken off by Burman teachers had to enter the examination room in underwear. The sex organs of some of the students were touched while checking by teachers, students' parents in Nao Mong complained.

A girl student in the examination room fainted and was sent to hospital after she was suspected of cheating in the examinations. She was searched roughly by teachers, the sources added.

The teachers strictly prohibited students from bringing small notes and any printed matter hidden inside their clothes. Burman teachers were ordered to take these steps by the education chief U Thein Saung, according to residents of Nao Mong.

In a high school in Nao Mong, Burman teachers do not teach ethnic Rawang students properly and they always arrive in school late for two or three months, the residents added.

High school students from four cities in Nao Mong areas appeared for their final examinations in Nao Mong and about 400 students appeared this year in high school examinations in Nao Mong, said a resident of Nao Mong.

High school students and their parents in Nao Mong areas are very upset with the racist behaviour of Burman school teacher, residents told KNG.