No.9 Basic Education High School Mawlamyine, commonly known by its colonial name, Shin Maha Buddhaghosa National School is located in Pabedan Street, between Upper Main Road & Baho Road, Mawlamyine. Alarmed by increasing number of Christian missionary schools, a group of conservative Buddhists from Buddha Sasana Society founded the school in 1898. Throughout colonial era, the school produced well-known writers and politicians who played a role in Burmese independence movement. It maintains diverse student body, accepting students from all walks of life regardless of financial background and ethnicity. Background
Before British colonization, education in Burma was primary driven by Buddhist monasteries at least since 11th century. The Buddhist monastic schools gave Burma a literacy rate considerably higher than those of other East Asian countries in the early 1900s. After colonization, British administration and Christian missionaries founded Western education centers including St Patrick's School (now B.E.H.S No.5) in Mawlamyine. By 1869 in lower Burma, there were 340 " Lay Schools" with 5069 students, providing basic Western education. In comparison, 3438 monastic schools were operating in the region, providing Buddhist education to over 44,000 students. Traditional methods of teaching however, became obsolete in British colonial environment. Influence of Buddhist monasteries in towns and villages diminished considerably as well. The retreat of Buddhist monasteries left a vacuum in education, filled increasingly by Christian missionary schools. Threatened by the growth of Christian education, Buddhist Burmese founded several Anglo-Vernacular high schools in 1890s. Founded in 1898, No. 9 B.E.H.S, then known as Shin Maha Buddhaghosa National School was among the first nationalist schools founded in the region. Founding and colonial era
In 1898, several Western educated Burmese saw a need to foster traditional teachings in the context of Western institutions and values. U Yan Win, an ethnic Mon alumnus of a British missionary school was encouraged by his British friend, Commissioner Bernard Houghton to start social work in Mawlamyine. Meanwhile, lawyer U Shwe Thwin and other Burmese scholars were finding ways to establish nationalist institutions. Collaborating together, they founded Buddha Sasana Society to foster traditional Buddhist teachings. The Society in turn, decided to establish Buddhaghosa National School in 1898 with U Yan Win as its headmaster, a position he held until his death in 1906. Upon its founding, the school heavily emphasized on Burmese and Pali teachings. The standard textbook for Burmese History was Maha Yazawin by U Kala. By 1920, nationalist sentiment ran high in Myanmar. During this period, a wealthy teak merchant U Thar Nyin, the father of a key Y.M.B.A leader Chit Hlaing donated a two-storey teak building to the school named U Thar Nyin Dhamayon which remains today. One of the pioneer of Burmese literature, U Sein Tin, commonly known by his pen name Theikpen Maung Wa matriculated from the school in 1919. Toward the end of colonial era, nationalist movement continued to gain momentum and the school appointed a well-known Burmese nationalist scholar, U Hla Thwin as its headmaster. In 1929, the father of Indian independence movement, Mahatma Gandhi visited Mawlamyine. In a conference held at the Buddhaghosa School, Gandhi addressed to a crowd of 25 Buddhist monks, 100 Burmese women, 800 Burmese men and 300 Indians. Gandhi expressed great pleasure for preponderance of Burmans at the meeting. Independence era
In 1964, on the eve of nationalization policy enforced by Burmese Socialist Programme Party, the school was nationalized and renamed to No.9 Basic Education High School Mawlamyine. Its former name continues to be used side by side with official name. The school curriculum and uniforms were changed to align with national standards. Contemporary era
Shin Maha Buddhaghosa High School remains one of the most prestigious schools in Mawlamyine. From 2002 to 2006, it had the highest overall matriculation exam pass rates in Mon State. Unlike most well-known high schools in Myanmar, it has diverse student body, covering all walks of life and ethnicity. Owing largely to its foundation, the school has nationalist culture; it celebrates National Day Festival every year, featuring traditional games, foods and dances. The school is well-known for instilling patriotism into students and has its own anthem. Buildings and facilities
The two-storey, U Thar Nyin Damayon was the principle building upon its founding. The school expands gradually later, adding several more buildings including the three-storey Thone-Htet Saung. Recent additions include Myatthanda Saung, featuring Physics and Biology labs and two-storey teaching facilities. Notable Alumni
Alumni of Maha Buddhaghosa School include some of the most accomplished writers, doctors and politicians of Myanmar. Theikpan Maung Wa (U Sein Tin), one of the pioneers of colonial Burmese literature, matriculated from Maha Buddhaghosa School in 1919 with distinctions in Burmese and Pali literature. He was appointed as head of the prestigious Department of Oriental Studies at the National Central School in Yangon. His poses influenced Burmese literature for half of a century and continue to be taught in high school textbooks to this day!
