by Hla Min

Update : September 2026

1961

Female Engineers

• Mi Mi Lay (Tex, GBNF)
• Julie Han (Tex, GBNF)
• Yin Yin Kyi (Tex)
• Pauline Reynolds (ChE)
• Tin Tin Ohn / Amy (Tex, GBNF)

Burma Institute of Technology

In the 1961 – 62 Academic Year, the Faculty of Engineering of Rangoon University moved to the Gyogone Campus.

It was named Burma Institute of Technology (BIT).

Sayas & Sayamas

U Yone Mo served as Dean.

U Sein Hla served as Registrar.

Newly minted sayas & sayamas include U Aung Soe (C), U Maung Maung Win (M), Daw Tin Tin Ohn (T) & Daw Julie Han

Matriculation & HSF

In 1961, the last Matric & High School Final exam took place. Those who pass the exam could attend the University.

In 1962, there were separate exams for Matric & HSF. Those who pass HSF had to take the Matric exam in order to attend the University.

2nd SEAP Games

• In December 1961, Burma hosted the 2nd South East Asian Peninsular Games.
• Burma placed First (according to the Tally of Medals) in the Games. Burma was dominant in Track & Field, Swimming & Diving (to name a few).
• About 20 students Rangoon University represented Burma in the Games. Several won Gold Medals : Tun Mra (4 x 100 meters relay), Soe Mra (Pole Vault), Kyaw Han (Volleyball), Richard Yu Khin (Yachting).
• Ko Richard (GBNF) provided the group photo. He also wrote about the swimming training with Ko Tin Maung Ni under a Japanese coach.
• Met Ko Tun Mra, Ko Khin Maung Latt & Ko Tin Myint (GBNF) at the RUBC/YUBC Annual Regatta in December 2019. Ko Tun Mra mentioned that he, Ko Kyaw Mra (GBNF), Ko Soe Mra & Ko Tun Naung represented Burma in the first SEAP Games held in Bangkok in 1959.

1962

Coup d’etat

• On March 2, 1962, a 17-member Revolutionary Council staged a Coup d’etat. Sao Shwe Thaik’s son was killed.

• Mahn Win Maung (President), U Nu (Prime Minister), U Myint Thein (Chief Justice), several high ranking officers & Sawbwas were imprisoned.
• U Myint Thein was among the first to be detained and the last to be released. He was given only a part day off to attend the last journey of his spouse Daw Phwa Hmi (pioneer Burmese female barrister).
• Sama Duwa Sinwa Naung had been selected to succeed Mahn Win Maung as the President, but the Coup ended the democratic parliamentary system.

HSF Exam

• The HSF exam results for Rangoon Division was annulled claiming a leakage of exam questions.
• The students had to retake the HSF exam in August, 1962.

Dark Days in July

• There were two Dark Days.
• Student protesters faced indiscriminate shooting on July 7, 1962. The newspapers & Myanmar Ah Than said that there were 17 victims.
• Ko Aung Khin who was killed by a stray bullet on his way back from RUBC to his home in Windermere Road was listed as the 17th casualty.
• On July 8, 1962, the revered RU Student Union Building was demolished.

1963

Matric Exam

• Most exams were held in March. However, the Matric exam in 1963 was held in May.
• St. Paul’s High School had five students in the Top Five, seven in the Top Ten, and ten in the Top Twenty.

Anniversary of 7th July

• In July 1963, the first Anniversary of 7th July 1962 was celebrated with posters, pamphlets & magazines.
• Some time later, the higher authorities announced the closure of most schools except the Faculty of Medicine & the Faculty of Engineering.

Rangoon University Boat Club

• Annual Regatta was canceled citing security reasons.
• Sithu U Tin (President) decided not to cancel the Dinner commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the Founding of RUBC by Sit Arthur Eggar (Law Professor).

1964

Scholarship for USSR & East Bloc

• Soviet Union and East Bloc nations offered scholarships for undergraduates & graduates.
• Some classmates (who were concerned about how long the schools will close) applied & were accepted.
• Maung Maung Kyi studied Chemical Engineering (specializing in Pulp & Paper) at Dresden University, GDR.

New Education System

• Enacted in November 1964
• The reorganization saw former Faculties as independent Institutes with their own Rector and Registrar. The remaining faculties of Rangoon University became Rangoon Arts & Science University (RASU).
• Under the new Education system, BIT became Rangoon Institute of Technology (RIT). It had autonomy. U Yone Mo served as Rector. U Soe Thein (former student leader) served as Registrar.
• Matriculates were admitted to the fresher classes at the Universities & Institutes using Intelligence Level Aggregate (ILA).
• The marks for each subject were converted to an ILA score (1 – 20). Those who have a balanced score can have a higher ILA than someone who has high marks in most subjects but a low score in one subject.
• There were name changes to the degrees offered, e.g B.E instead of B.Sc.(Engg)
• Majors were introduced.
• LL.B was offered.

Luyechun

• The program was initiated in the Summer of 1964.
• Outstanding students from middle school and high school was chosen as Luyechun. They were sent to the Ngapali Luyechun Camp.
• Oke Soe Kha (MEHS), Win Aung (TTC) and Ma Pwint Than (Loikaw) were some High School Luyechuns.

1965

Nationalization

• On April 1, 1965 private schools were nationalized.
• St. Paul’s High School (SPHS) became No. 6 Botathaung State High School.
• Methodist English High School (MEHS) became No. 1 Dagon State High School.

Luyechun Camps

• The Luyechun program was extended to students of Universities & Institutes in the summer of 1965.
• I was selected as RIT Luyechun along with Ko Sein Shwe, Ma Khin Than Myint Tin, and Ko Zaw Min. We were sent to the newly opened Inlay Khaung Daing Camp was added.
• The Rangoon Combined Camp was the meeting point for those from Ngapali Camp and Inlay Camp.

Updates

• There were more changes in the Education System.
• Some were name changes : RIT to YIT & YTU
• There were more closures to Schools.
• There were more Coup d’etat — in 1988 & 2021
• Burma hosted 5th SEAP Games in 1969.
• The Luyechun Program ended in 1988.

Posts

• Calendar
• Education Systems
• Exams
• Luyechun
• Memories of a 69er
• Rangoon University
• SEAP Games