Teacher terminated for political activism

 

Thein Than Maung Maung, the husband of the teacher from No 2 Basic Education High School (BEHS) in Monywa, Sagaing Region, said that the principal told his wife on January 9 to leave the house. 

“I think this is because I organised an educational talk to mark General Aung San’s 100th birthday because the principal told my wife that he believes I am a political activist,” he said.

The principal her to leave as soon as possible but did not give a deadline.

Both have stayed in the staff quarters for more than a year. While his wife teaches math to Grade 11, Thein Than Maung Maung is a manager of Mother’s Garden Education Network, which was founded by the National League for Democracy (NLD). 

Thein Than Maung Maung was also questioned by Monywa District Education Office why he wanted to hold the talk. 

Kyaw Hsint, the Monywa District Education officer, said that he just followed the rules.

“It was the government instruction. According to district administrators, if the couple want to stay in the school, they must stop their political involvement. If they want to do politics, they can do so outside the school. We didn’t order them to leave the school at once. We warned them not to get involved in political affairs again. That was the instruction from district administrators handed down to me by phone. After that, I phoned the principal,” he said. 

Kyaw Kyaw Wai, a district administrator in Monywa District, added that the couple should not be involved in political movements while living in the school’s compound. 

“If they want to participate in politics, they should do so outside. As for me, if wanted to get involved in a political movement, I would resign from my job and get into politics. Whatever, we didn’t instruct them to leave the school at once.”