Five Burmese Educational Journals Shut Down

By THE IRRAWADDY

Five educational journals have disappeared from Burmese schools following a publication ban imposed by the Ministry of Education, according to informed sources.

The ban, imposed in July, closed down publication of Educator, Prime, Digital Way, Nyein and Pan Daing [“Goal”], which were aimed at middle and high school students.

A member of the Educator staff said no reason had been given for the ban, which had been imposed by the Press Scrutiny and Registration Board on the instructions of the Ministry of Education.

Staff of the five publications are reportedly discussing with the Press Scrutiny and Registration Board a possible resumption of publication.

The Board is currently reviewing 80 educational books, according to media sources.

Several parents and teachers expressed concern about the disappearance of the five banned publications. “It will have an effect on most high school students,” said one Rangoon resident.

The five publications were valued as supplements to the inadequate teaching material provided by state schools.

Educator, a fortnightly journal, was founded in 2001 and reached a circulation of 15,000, mostly tenth graders. Nyein was also a fortnightly.

Prime and Digital Way, both weeklies, were founded in 2005 for middle and high school students. Pan Diang was published monthly.