The news that Ma Ba Tha is opening a private high school on the outskirts of Yangon somewhat troubles me.
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I am a Buddhist myself; however, monks getting closely involved in the education system to build children’s morals and their devotion to be Buddhists, in my opinion, feels too much like pushing an agenda of protecting “race and religion”.
I am not against teaching religion as part of an education curriculum. But religious teaching could, and in my opinion should, still be done in monasteries, as currently practised in Myanmar culture, where young boys are expected to be novices. [/su_column] [/su_row]
Alternately, the Committee for the Protection of Nationality and Religion – as Ma Ba Tha is formally called in English – can offer courses on the essence of Buddhism during school holidays for example. They could even open Sunday schools like in the West.
I believe moral education begins at home. It is not the responsibility of an institution or a specific religious group to impart morality. Families, especially parents, have an important role to play here. Schools can fine-tune these moral values, but it is parents who, as children’s role models, have direct influence on their child’s character. Continue Reading …