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BRIEF HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF YANGON EDUCATION
CENTRE FOR THE BLIND
It had been clearly understood since the
establishment of the Myanmar Christian
Fellowship of the Blind (M.C.F.B) that an
education system for blind persons was
essential. So, considering the fact that the
State School for the Blind, accepted students of
up to 14 years only, it was decided to make
arrangements for the education of blind children
over 14 years of age. M.C.F.B started this
undertaking in the early part of 1977 by
searching out for blinds above 14 years,
bringing them to Yangon, and providing them with
food and lodging; at the same time they were
given vocational training at the State School
for the Blind in Kyimyindine Township. Beginning
from June 1977, (2) blind adults were given
training in cane and bamboo handicrafts.
Commencing in June 1979, MCFB started the middle
school education level for the students who had
passed the primary level at the school for the
Blind.
 M.C.F.B
became encouraged by this new development and
started regular school classes for (6) blind
students of both sexes, in parallel to training
the (2) blind adults in vocational skills.
With the kind permission of Daw Agatha Thein Mya,
a teacher at the State School for the Blind, her
residence wasused as a main classroom for
teaching regular school. These (6) students were
attending vocational training at the State
School for the Blind, so they had to find time
in the mornings, during school breaks and in the
evenings for their school lessons. One part-
time and a few volunteer teachers taught at the
school. The school was expanded in the 1980-81
academic year by the addition of another
classroom, but because M.C.F.B still had no
facilities of its own, students sometimes had to
study on pavements or under trees.
In the 1981-82 academic year, some girl students
had already passed their vocational training
courses and were no longer entitled to board and
lodging at the State School for the Blind;
therefore, interim arrangements were made by
opening the Yangon Practical Bible School in the
residence of Saw Tun Wai, vice-president of
M.C.F.B, beginning in June 1981. Beside (11)
boarding students of both sexes there were also
( 4) male and female day students, making a
total of(15).
 Starting
from September 1981, donations arrived from the
Christoffel Blinden Mission (C.B.M), Germany. A
house and premises at No. (6), Aung Theikdi
Road, Thamaing, were purchased with funds
received and M.C.F.B moved to its new location
on November 27, 1981.
In the 1983-84 academic year, it became evident
that the Aung Theikdi Road School had become too
small to serve its present purpose and because
expansion was not possible due to adjacent land
not being available, a 1.531-acre plot of land
was purchased at Kawe` Chan and the school was
opened at this new site
Yangon Practical Bible School for the Blind is a
high school teaching up to the tenth standard
and is 0'1 par with all State High Schools as it
utilized the State prescribed curicula. In
addition, it teaches vocational subjects like
cane, bamboo handicrafts, broom-making; reed-mat
weaving; sewing and embroidery; metal working;
electric guitar playing; playing of other band
instruments, etc.,
In 1991 the Social Welfare Department began to
donate rice to the school, and in 1992 State
oignitaries accorded recognition to the school
by paying official visits. The land occupied by
the school classified as tresspassed land was
re-classified as government -grant-land. In 1989
the Yangon Practical Bible School for the Blind
was re-named the Yangon Education Center for the
Blind.
Since 1992, the Social Welfare Department has
placed the school in its No. (2) Priority
Category for granting aid, and has according
provided aid to the school. The Yangon City
Development Committee has also provided annual
aid and assistance to the school. |
