Nway Oo Guru Lay Myar Education Center is an educational group that emerged during the Spring Revolution.
On February 1, 2023, it has been two years since the Myanmar military seized the country’s power. Many lives were destroyed by the military coup. Many of them were involved in the struggle to stand up during the revolution. Among them is one, Ma Khin Sandar Nyunt.
On February 1, 1988, the year of the public uprising, Ma Khin Sanda Nyunt was born here, On February 1, 2021, when turned 33, his birthday was painfully spent as the military seized the country’s power at the hands of the armed forces. Those pains gave her the strength to be in the Spring Revolution against the military dictatorship.
"With that mindset, this shouldn't happen at all. That's why we participate from the side that can afford it. I started participating to oppose the coup until the end," she said.
The "Spring Gurus" Education Center in Karenni (Kayah State) proves that she continues to walk according to her conviction two years ago. Karenni is a powerful region that is fighting an armed revolution against the military dictator.
Nway Oo Guru Lay Myar " Education Center is an educational group that emerged during the Spring Revolution.
It can be said that it was the result of gathering together some ethnic children, including Ma Sandar Nyunt, who fled to the Karenni due to insecurity while opposing the coup, especially for children fleeing the war.
It is not led by one person, but by different ethnicities, those who are wise in 2022. It was opened in January by six members.
During the Spring Revolution, while revolutionizing the military dictatorship, on the other hand, a better education system, All the members also believe that it is necessary to initiate from now on to become a federal education system.
"There are 6 people who started forming the little gurus this spring. Those in this group will work hard. They will participate from one corner of the revolution. They gave it with the meaning that they would have wisdom," said Ma Khin Sandar Nyunt, who participated in the formation of Nway Oo Guru Lay Myar.
A Burmese came from Yangon, a cultural anthropology researcher, Ma Khin Sandar Nyunt fled to Karenni land, which was not familiar to her, the organizations in the region, politics, and economic, cultures, she tried to familiarize herself with the social environment.
While trying to study, on-ground difficulties, after she learned about the needs, she became aware of the need for education, so she gathered like-minded young people and established Nway Oo Guru Lay Myar.
"If the deserters are fighting from one place to another, they have to leave their village and move to another place. We see that they prefer to move to a place that is safe and convenient for their child's education. Oh, education is also a main driving force for this migration, isn't it? I learned whether the need for education is on the ground," said Ma Khin Sandar Nyunt.
In the Spring Guru Education Center, the mother tongue is mainly taught, and the relevant literature and culture teachers teach it systematically, while the English courses are taught by international schools.
In addition, at Nway Oo Guru Lay Myar, Environmental subjects that students will be able to apply not only in theory but also in real life, human rights agriculture, and music can also be studied.
On the other hand, the damages caused by the war, it is also being taught to heal emotional and physical injuries.
When Nway Oo Guru Lay Myar Education Center has been in existence for more than 1 year, there are about 15 groups that have been working together, and 165 students have also graduated.
Among those who have graduated, are the young people who have turned 18 years of age and can continue to study as an apprentice in sectors of education and health news media.
Regarding the curriculum of Nway Oo Guru Lay Myar Children's Education Center, Ma Khin Sandar Nyunt said, "In Burma, we have Burmese bigotry. This is a matter to be accepted. It's the truth.
This is part of the system of society. In education, it is included in the school curriculum. These must be corrected. With the different cultures of each region, history, and tradition, it is more important to have regionally based curricula that draw on different traditions. These are things that should be started during the revolution," she explained.
Khu Paray Reh Paulthu, a Karenni youth who is trying to help the ethnic youths who are avoiding the war to continue their education, said that the Karenni is small in terms of area and population, and the number of educated people is scarce. That's why the local ethnic youth are leading again and giving more priority to the education part, he said.
He also said, "One day, these young people can become leaders for our nation, so we are giving more priority to education for the ethnic youth while avoiding war in order to get their rights."
Khu Paru Reh is the founder of Youth Academy College Karenni (YAC) and is also partnering with the Young Gurus Education Center. He said that he is happy that the children of the Karenni region have the opportunity to continue their education during this crisis.
In doing so, those who are fighting together to achieve the revolution are Burmese.
Understanding each other so that there is no discrimination on the grounds of ethnicity. Compromise Khu Paru Ye said that they are working together under pressure.
However, education during the war still poses many challenges. Where there are difficulties in transportation due to the fighting, food, and delays in the transportation of teaching materials, in addition to high costs and security awareness. There is no shortage of awareness.
In addition, as the long-term increases, the need for finance also exists.
"It's been more than a year now that I was in prison," Sandar Nyunt said. There is financial need. In the past, the school was open for three months. Since it was closed for two months, now the diploma class is to open in March, so the school will have to be open the whole time.
So, the school's food will be needed. We need donors who can provide long-term and continuous support," she said.
However, no matter how difficult, No matter the crisis. The right to education cannot be ignored. All the young people working on local issues such as Khu Paru Ye, including former Sandar Nyunt and members of the Spring Guru, have made a firm determination to continue working.
"It has been two years since the revolution. I faced many challenges and difficulties. What I want to say to the ethnic youth is that let's try always. We all need to participate together. We need to try harder," Khu Paru Reh urged.
Mr. Khin Sandar Nyunt said that when the revolution is completed, the teaching programs will be reformed and moved forward according to the needs of the ground situation. It is hoped that it will continue to be sustainable even after the end of the revolution.
"People should not forget the education system during the revolution. If you are in a situation where you can't go to school, try teaching at home. No matter what difficulties there are, don't forget education. During the revolution, we must fight for federal democracy as well as fight for federal education," she said in her message.
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