Read, Watch and Respond

Myanmar, a country in South East Asia

Yangon is the capital of the Yangon Region of Myanmar, also known as Burma

The Hakha Diocese

The Hakha Diocese is located in the mountainous region of Chin State in Myanmar. As Hakha is situated in a remote location, during the rainy season the mountainous roads become impassable with frequent landslides blocking off all access.

According to UNICEF, Chin State remains one of the least developed areas of Myanmar, with its school facilities largely inadequate. The government system of education relies mainly on rote learning; to study by heart all the prescribed lessons—focusing only on passing the examination—and discouraging critical thinking.

Education has always been paramount to the people of Myanmar. Prior to the 1962 military coup, government and religious schools coexisted in Myanmar, offering a high standard of education which was among the best in Asia. When missionaries were expelled shortly after the military takeover, and schools were nationalised, a system of rote learning was introduced, which forces children to learn by heart, without giving them the tools to critically analyse the

subject. When the nation’s bishops came together to prepare an agenda for the coming years, education topped the list. The Church is now opening schools and training teachers—namely in the child-centred approach—in an effort to return to the lofty standards of education Myanmar once enjoyed.

3-6 Resources

St John’s School, Hakha Diocese

Inside a classroom at St John’s.

Children in class

Children learning

A child with a teacher

St John’s School being built

Watch the 360 VR “Myanmar – St John’s School” and…

www.WMM2018.cm.org.au/360-degree-vr.html

Talk about…

How are you the same as the children in Myanmar?

How are you different to the children in Myanmar?

Why you think our governments say Australian children have to go to school.

Why is education important for all children to have access to?

How does our government ensure all children have access to education?

Drama activity

Create a play in a small group about what your favourite part of school is. Use the 360VR, and the photo gallery, to have a look at school life at St John’s. What do you think is their favourite part of school?

Discuss

“The school will use a child-centred approach, focused on the development of each child through holistic learning.”

What is rote learning? How is it different from the ways you learn at school?

What would it be like to not be able to ask questions about the things you’re learning about?

What does it mean to “Heal a nation through education”?

English activity

Create a script for the 360 video clips you have watched about Myanmar?

Investigate and Discuss

What do you know about Catholic Mission? What work are they involved in?

How do the videos you have watched help the work of Catholic Mission?

What can we do from our classroom in Australia to help the children in Myanmar?

What can our class do to help Catholic Mission?

Creative activity

Take a walk around your school and record what you see, hear and smell. Illustrate what you observed and experienced. Make a movie about a life in your school, including the things you like to do at school like creating, investigating, learning and playing. After looking at the 360VR of St John’s, illustrate what you observed about their school and the things they do in a day there.