Free Primary & Secondary School Project at Ta Man Village
Bogalay situated at Myanmar Lower Delta Farming Region
 

1.  History

Banthe Kawwidarsara is a young & dynamic monk from Ta Man Village, Bogalay Township. He will be completing in April 2006 his Doctorate Degree in Buddhist Studies from the University of Delhi, India. Together with his cousin nun, Salayay Sandasiri, they have with determination, initiative and hard work started a free basic primary education school to provide free education for the local underprivileged children from the farming delta region of Bogalay. So with a plot of padi land (300ft square) given to Banthe Kawwidarsara by his late parents and donations from well wishers, a temporary primary school was constructed on this site.

2.  Location

The temporary primary school is located in Ta Man Village, Bogalay (Bogale) Township, Ayeyawady Division. This village is situated in one of the islets on one of the deltas formed at the river mouth of Myanmar lower delta region. It takes five hours to reach Bogalay by road from Yangon, the capital of Myanmar and an additional 45 min by motorboat to the delta villages.

3.  People & Background

Ta Man Village is surrounded by four other islets villages, with a total population of about 2,000 people. The lower delta region is made up of mainly Burmese and the minority ethnic groups of Karen, Mon and Shan. They have been living here harmoniously for many years. Farming is the main occupation of the people in these delta islets.

The poverty in the lower delta regions does not permit the underprivileged children to attend school due to the financial difficulties face by the farming people in Bogalay. The school dropout rate is high. Most of the children have drifted away from their own culture and religion, which normally form an integral part of a Burmese way of life.

The present temporary bamboo school with an atap roof is about 42ft by 28ft sitting over an approximately area of 300ft by 300ft. It caters for 3 villages with a total population of about 1,000. The present school could only support 100 students with two teachers, and is already operating at its maximum capacity.

Villagers from the other 2 islets send their children to another 2 schools. One of them is a 

government school, to the east of Ta Man, and the other to the north, where the school 

was started and administered by a christian missionary. Both schools are also running at 

their maximum capacities. 

There is an acute shortage of primary schools and NO secondary school in this whole area 

of about 5 villages which we had surveyed.

4.  Aims and Objectives

To build a school that is able to provide free education to both the primary and secondary students. In addition to the formal basic education, the school facilities will also be used to conduct family and personal enriching courses. Courses that could be offered are like basic computer, personal hygiene as well as issues concerning environment protection, their role and duties towards the society and some skills to help them in their livelihood and future occupation.

5.  Proposals & Recommendations

We propose to build two 1-storey masonry school buildings with 6 classrooms each. 
The new school building could accommodate up to about 300 students, catering for both 
primary and secondary educations. Due to the soft soil state and mostly wet environment, 
a 1-storey masonry school building is recommended and preferred, as it is suitable for the 
local conditions and is expected to last much longer. 

In addition to the school buildings, a 35m deep well with pump and storage tanks plus 2 
male and 2 female toilets are also being planned for the project. The well and storage 
tanks will also provide clean water for the local villagers who presently uses the poor 
quality river water for all of their daily needs and activities.

The total estimated cost for the two 1-storey masonry school buildings, 4-units toilet and the deep well with storage tank is about S$95,000. To help in the daily running of the school, we have planned to plant some cash crops in the unused padi plots.

We therefore appeal to all well wishers to donate generously to this free school project in Ta Man Village, Bogalay. This will help to provide free education opportunity for the underprivileged children. Your donations will go a long way in helping these children integrate into the largely educated society as able and contributing members. Your love and attention to this free school building project will be greatly appreciated.

Together we light up the world.