Guinea Pigs of Education

Exams and Language of Study

• My older brother and sister took two Government examinations — 7th Std exam & 9th Std exam — before entering Rangoon University.
• I had to take four examinations — 7th Std exam, 9th Std exam (twice) & 10th Std exam — as a Guinea Pig of the changing Education Systems.
• We had to study most subjects in Burmese and English.
  Thin Char, Yupa Beda and Dhatu Beda in 9th standard
  Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry in 10th standard
• We took the last 7th Standard Government examination in 1960.
• Note that there were protests regarding the 7th Standard examination in 1956. Harry Tan, who lived nearby, was killed by a stray bullet. All those who took the examination were declared “Pass”.

• There used to be a Combined High School Final & Matriculation examination.
  Successful candidates could attend the University.
• However, the System Changed.

HSF Only Exam

• We had to take the first ever High School Final Only examination in 1962. We lost one precious year of our lives as guinea pigs of the frequently changing Education System. We answered all tests in Burmese (except English).

• We (those from Rangoon) took the HSF examination with the security troops roaming the city after the Coup d’etat on March 2, 1962. The examination was annulled citing “leakage of questions”.
  We had to retake the HSF in August 1962.
• We would normally be attending Rangoon University in 1962. We might witness two dark days in the History of Rangoon University on July 7, 1962 and July 8, 1962.

Matriculation Only Exam

• We took the Matriculation Only in 1963.
  We answered all tests in English (except Burmese).

University Days

• We attended the last ever I.Sc.(A) classes at Leik Khone (Rangoon Intermediate College).
• There were protests in July 1963 to commemorate the anniversary of 7th July 1962 and 8th July 1962.

• The higher authorities closed most schools (except the Faculty of Medicine and Engineering).
• Those who were one year senior to us in High School graduated 2.5 years ahead of us from RIT.
• The schools later faced many closures — short term and long term — citing Security Concerns.

Reorganization

• Rangoon University was closed following the 7th July Anniversary Protests. It was reorganized into Universities and Institutes.

Accreditation

• Rangoon University was accredited.
  Most Institutes were not accredited (for a long time).