NarinjaraNews, March 31,2023

The lack of Mro literature in basic education schools attended by Mro ethnicchildren in Rakhine State has ledto the establishment of self-learning schools for these children.

At present, a Mro youth group based in Thiho Aye village,4-Mile neighborhood in Maungdaw Township,is providing a Mro literature course to 97 trainees, Ko Maung Hla Win, theyoung leader of the village, told Narinjara.
"We are teaching the fundamental terms and characters of Mro literature inthis course. Our aim is to openand teach such courses to help the Mro children understand the essence of our literature and preserve our culture”,he said.

Commencing on March 11th, the course will remain open untilthe end of May.

The Mro literature course was initially introduced in 2017across Ponnagyun, Buthidaung, Maungdaw, and Kyauktaw townships by the MroLiterature and Culture Association. The course currently being offered in ThiHo Aye village is the second edition.

 Requests for the inclusion of Mro literature in thecurriculum of schools attended by Mro children have been made annually sinceseveral years ago. On Mro New Year's Day in 2022, another written requestconcerning this matter was submitted again to the government.

 "Since 2017, we have been making regular requests toteach Mro literature in schools on ethnic days and New Year's Day. However, wehave yet to receive permission or see any progress towards this goal”, said UZani Phyu, chair of the Mro Literature and Culture Association.

 As a measure to ensure the preservation and protection ofMro literature, such courses, alternative forms of self-supporting schools havebeen established, he explained.
Successive governments in Myanmar have provided budget support for thecelebration of important cultural events like Mro National Day and Mro NewYear's Day, however, the promotion and teaching of Mro literature have beenlargely neglected, he added.
“We desire for Mro children to gain knowledge about our literature. As long asthe Mro tribe continues to exist, Mro literature will persist. However,official recognition of Mro literature in schools would ensure itspreservation. Hence, we request the government schools to provide the option toteach Mro literature. Although Mro literature may not be in imminent danger ofdisappearing, it is crucial to consider its long-term preservation”, U ZaniPhyu said.
The Mro people possess a distinct cultural identity, including their ownliterature, language, traditions, and dress code. They predominantly reside inrural areas and support themselves through hillside farming while livingharmoniously.

 The Mro people inhabit the townships of Ponnagyun,Buthidaung, Maungdaw, and Kyauktaw in Rakhine State, with a total population ofbetween 30000 and 50000, according to U Zani Phyu.