Reproductive health education discussed at Amyotha Hluttaw

June 12, 2017

New buildings for a high school in Rakhine State, a bill amending the Myanmar Coastal and Inland Water Transport License Law, and reproductive health courses were among the issues discussed at yesterday’s Amyotha Hluttaw meeting in Nay Pyi Taw.

With regards to a question by Daw Htu May of Rakhine State constituency 11 on any plans to construct a 120 ft x 30 ft reinforced concrete building to replace an old, damaged and dangerous building at Chaungwa Basic Education High School (sub), Chaungwa village tract, Yanbye Township, Rakhine State during the 2017-2018 academic year, Deputy Minister for Education U Win Maw Tun said Ks137 million was allocated from the 2017-2018 education budget to construct new school buildings in Yanbye Township, Rakhine State.

He added that there were four buildings in Chaungwa Basic Education High School (sub) and the 120 ft x 30 ft brick structure with zinc roofing, plywood walls and two storeys was built in 1980 and has deteriorated. It could be considered in a dangerous state, the Deputy Minister said.

The school, without including the dangerous building, had sufficient teaching areas and it was not given priority in the 2017-2018 academic year fund.

In the coming 2018-2019 FY, funds will be included to construct a 120 ft x 30 ft reinforced concrete building, the Deputy Minister said. Next, Mahn Win Khaing Than, Speaker of the Amyotha Hluttaw, notified the Pyithu Hluttaw that it was sending back with amendments a bill amending the Myanmar Coastal and Inland Water Transport License Law approved by Amyotha Hluttaw. An announcement was made for hluttaw representatives who want to discuss the matter to submit their names.

Hluttaw representatives then debated a motion tabled by Dr. Tin Tin Win of Bago Region constituency 5 to be included under the heading of general subject matter in Myanmar’s college, high school and middle school curriculum “reproductive health”, “people’s ethic (Pyithu Niti)” and “democracy” for Quality Education, goal number four of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Naw Hla Hla Soe of Yangon Region constituency 10 said that, according to the 2015-2016 health study, there is a rise in youth pregnancy this year as well as a rise in the incidence of aborting of unwanted pregnancies resulting in deaths of unborn children and mothers, abandoning of newborns and child rapes. Therefore the inclusion of “reproductive health” education in the school curriculum would help prevent these problems. Furthermore, it will train and educate the youth on equal rights of different sexes, understanding and acceptance of the differences in sex that will prevent sex-based violence resulting in responsible youths capable of working for the country.

U Hwei Tin of Chin State constituency 11, Dr. Khin Maung Win of Taninthayi Region constituency 11, U Hla San of Magway Region constituency 1, U Zon Hle Htan of Chin State constituency 4, U Shan Awl of Chin State constituency 2, Daw Nwe Nwe Aung of Mon State constituency 2 and U Min Oo of Bago Region constituency 6 debated further on the motion.

Deputy Minister U Win Maw Tun responded to the comments made on the motion and Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker announced the Hluttaw recording the motion.

The 2nd Amyotha Hluttaw 5th regular session 13th day meeting will be held on 13 June.

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar