Ethnic Mro children face language difficulties at IDP camp school

29 Sep 2019

Wuntha (Maugdaw) | DMG
September 29, Ponnagyun

Mro ethnic children in Ahtet Myat Hlae IDP camp in Ponnagyun Township are facing language difficulties at the camp’s school, said U Thein Shwe, the principal of Ahtet Myat Hlae High School.

The camp’s ethnic Arakan teachers can only teach in Arakan language, they cannot communicate with the Mro children. The principal said schools needed to appoint ethnic Mro teachers.

“Since the Mro and Arakan languages are different, it is hard for the teachers and students to communicate. We need to hire Mro teachers to overcome this difficulty,” U Thein Shwe said.

Daw San San Lwin, a primary school teacher, said that she has learned the Mro language so that she can communicate with Mro students.

“Because our languages are different, it is hard to study, but I tried to learn their language the best I can. Now it is getting easier to communicate with the kids. At the start, I had to use both the Arakan language and the Mro language when I taught them in the classroom. Now, my language is getting better. I just need to be patient,” she said.

About 150 children who fled Kyauktaw and Ponnagyun townships because of fighting between the Tatmadaw and Arakan Army (AA) are studying at Ahtet Myat Hlae High School.

Mro are one of seven Arakan ethnic groups and they mostly live in Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw, Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships.