Blind students recognised for 'remarkable' 2011 exam results

By Ye Linn Htut
June 20 - 26, 2011

FOURTEEN blind students who passed the 2011 matriculation exam were recognised for their achievement at a ceremony held at Khawei Chan School for the Blind in Insein township last week.

U Thein Lwin, chairman of the Myanmar Christian Fellowship of the Blind, said this year’s contingent was the largest to date, and included one student who achieved three distinctions and a handful who achieved one distinction.

“Blind students started taking matriculation exams in 1960 … In 1968, three students passed the exam and five students out of eight passed the exam in 1970, including me,” said U Thein Lwin.

“Sixteen years later two students passed the exam. Since then, blind students have been taking the exam every year but this year was remarkable because 14 students passed and 80 percent of those who sat the exam were successful,” he said, adding that only five students sat the exam in 2010.

The 14 students each received K50,000, while high achievers received an additional K10,000 for each distinction they were awarded. The June 10 ceremony was conducted by the Myanmar Blind Association and the Department of Social Welfare.

Kyeemyindaing School for the Blind had the largest number of matriculants with six, followed by Khawei Chan School for the Blind (five students), Sagaing School for the Blind (two students) and Meiktila School for the Blind (one student).

U Thein Lwin said the pass rate had improved from less than 50pc in previous years, a fact he attributed to “higher enthusiasm” on the part of students and increased support from teachers.

“This year is a remarkable year in our history so we decided to hold this award ceremony to celebrate their achievements and motivate other students,” he said.

U Aung Ko Myint, secretary of the Myanmar Blind Association, said blind students faced many difficulties – something he had learned the hard way.

“I sat the exam in 1999. I wanted to achieve at least two distinctions but although I tried my best and passed, I didn’t get any distinctions. I was really upset,” he said, adding that the “hard work” of the teachers at blind schools was a major factor in this year’s high pass rate.

Ma Ah Main from Khawei Chan, who received a distinction in history, said her expectations had been low after she failed the mathematics section of last year’s exam. “I’m so glad now and I can’t express my happiness in words. I would like to say to other blind students: ‘Nothing is impossible.’”

“[At Khawei Chan] we had only three sets of textbooks for seven students so we had to study in rotation,” said Ma Ah Main, who is training at the Myanmar Medical Massage Training Centre. “When I sat the exam, there was only me and my helper in the exam room. We had an extra 30 minutes on top of the normal time allowed – I used this extra time for the mathematics questions.”

Mg Myint Hlaing from Sagaing School for the Blind, who achieved distinctions in geography, history and economics, agreed mathematics was the most difficult subject for blind students.

“The exam was very difficult and I didn’t expect three distinctions. I think the good results are because of the supports and encouragement of our teachers and the guidance of our principal, Daw Khin Myat Thu,” said Mg Myint Hlaing, who plans to study English at university.

Daw Khin Mar Yi said she was “so happy” for her youngest daughter, Ma Khin Thuzar Tun, who achieved a distinction in economics.

“I failed the exam in Mathematics last year,” said Ma Khin Thuzar Tun. “I achieved my aim with the support of teachers, the guidance of the principal and my own effort.”

Daw Khin Myat Thu, principal of Sagaing School for the Blind, said more students planned to sit the exam in 2012.

“Our school does not have much funding so we can’t hire prominent teachers. Instead we make sure we train the students well. This year two students sat the exam and passed; one achieved three distinctions and the other two distinctions, which is our best result ever. We expect four students will sit the exam next year.” –