GRADUATION OF MON SUMMER LITERACRY CLASS

(IMNA: April 11, 2005)

A graduation ceremony was held for the 13th anniversary of Mon literacy training organized by Rev. Palita on April 10th in Mudon Township in which over 10, 000 students and 5,000 supporters from various villages attended.  

The closing ceremony began at 7:00 p.m. and the organizing committee handed out certificates to the most outstanding students from different villages in Mudon Township.  As is customary for the Mon, the community organized a Mon traditional dance backed by live music for the audience. 

In a speech, the senior monk Rev. Palita described the historical background of the Mon language that was first inscribed on rectangular stone slabs around the 5th century A.D. The stone slabs are finely displayed in Thai museums all over the country that depicts almost 1000 years of cultural development and the ebb and flow of a number of Mon kingdoms in Thailand and Burma. Rev. Palita highlighted the significance of Mon influence on the Thai kingdom’s administration during the 15-16th Century A.D.  He urged the audience to maintain Mon literature and language for future generations.  

Closing ceremonies were also held at the Township level according to the respective village tract Organizing Committees.  Nyung-gone village tract, which is about 3 miles south of Mudon town, also held a ceremony there today that drew in hundreds of students.  

Last year a ceremony was held in Kamawet, the biggest village in the Township that drew about 10,000 students from 11-village tracts. The ceremony was attended by 5 to 18 year olds who completed their basics in reading and writing the Mon language.  “If they know how to read and write then they can understand Mon history and will respect the value of Mon literature and culture.   Now some Mon children do not understand Mon history, they will not know who they are and where they come, this will cause problems,” said a parent, Mr. Nai Aung Moe.  “The summer Mon literacy training was organized for a specific purpose and goal and we achieved that, I am happy and the students are grateful,” added Mr. Moe. 

A chairman of Mon Literature and Culture Committee, Mr. Nai Tun, from Three-Pagodas Pass border town said they were also organizing a session for Mon children there, the parents want a similar literacy training program.  He said that they would provide textbooks, stationary and teachers for the children who live in rubber plantations and farms far from the training area.