Blog

Pioneers
Sayagyis
- U Pe Maung Tin
  First native Principal of Rangoon College
- Dr. Htin Aung
  First native Rector of University of Rangoon
- U Ba Hli
  First native Dean of Engineering, University of Rangoon
- Dr. Mya Tu
  Founder/Director of Burma Medical Research Institute
- Dr. Chit Swe
  Founder/Director of UCC
- …
Early Burmese Scholars in the UK
- Dr. Hla Myint
  Economics
- Dr. Tha Hla
  Geology
- Dr. Maung Maung Kha
  Meteorological Physics
- …
Recipients of the Twinning Program
- Dr. Aung Gyi
  BS, MS from MIT
- U Min Wun
  BS from MIT, MS from Cornell
- U Maung Maung Than
  BS from Clemson, MS from Lowell
- U Khin Aung Kyi
  BS, MS from MIT
- U Aung Khin
  BS, MS from Lehigh
- U Sein Hlaing
  MS from MIT
- U Tin Swe
  MS from Michigan
- U Sein Win
  BS, MS from Michigan
- …
Founders of Khit San Sar Pay
- Theikpan Maung Wa
  ICS U Sein Tin
- Zawgyi
  U Thein Han
- Minthuwun
  U Wun
There were the early students at the then newly established “Burmese Department” at the University of Rangoon (per request of Sayagyi U Pe Maung Tin, Pali and Burmese Scholar).

Founders of UCC
- Dr. Chit Swe
  Founder Director
- U Soe Paing
- U Myo Min
- U Ko Ko Lay
Sayadaws

Early Burmese Sayadaws in the UK
- U Thithila
- Dr. Rewata Dhamma
Early Burmese Sayadaws in the USA
- U Silanandabhivamsa
  Dhammananda Vihara, Northern California
- Penang Sayadaw
  Southern California
- U Kelasa
  East Coast
Early Non-Burmese Sayadaws in Burma
- U Lokanatha
  Former Chemist in the USA
  Italian Buddhist Monk
- Ashin Ananda
  Formerly Reverend F. Lustig
  Buddhist Archbishop of Latvia
March 7, 2024
Civil Sayas
- Allen Htay (USA)
- U Aye Win Kyaw
- U Ba Hli — First native Dean of Engineering
- Daw Khin Aye Maw
- U Kyaw Thein
- U Myint Soe
- U Ngwe Tun
- H. Num Kok (USA )
- Daw Thein Thein Nwet
- U Tin Win
- Dr. Win Thein
- U Win Maung
- Daw Yin Myaing
March 7, 2024
1946
Education

Rangoon University

Reopened.

Students include
- U Tin U (Dio)
  Captain and Gold, RUBC
  BS in Civil Engineering at Oregon State
  MS in Civil Engineering at Yale
  Part-time Lecturer at the Civil Engineering Department
  Director, Clark and Grieg
  Consultant, Interkiln
  Consultant, PWD
  Captain, RGC
- U Sein Hlaing
  Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical) in 1952.
  Joined Faculty as Assistant Lecturer
  MS in Electrical Engineering at MIT
  Professor and Head of Electrical Engineering
- Dr. Pe Nyun (Dick San Pe)
  Pediatric Surgeon
  Leader of team to operate on Ma Nan Soe / Ma Nan San (conjoined twins)
- Dr. Pe Thein (Tom San Pe)
  Professor
  Minister of Health and Education
March 7, 2024
Cost of Living
In our days at RIT and some time after graduation

School fees
- 15 kyats per month
- Paid 30 kyats every two months
Collegiate Scholarship and Stipend
- 75 kyats per month
- Net 60 kyats after paying the school fees
Remuneration
- Poem 15 kyats
- Article 15 kyats
- Translation of short story (a) 50 kyats to the translator (b) 50 kyats to the author
- Artist 50 kyats for doing the background
Bus fare
- 10 to 15 pyas (for short and medium distances)
- 30 pyas (whole route)
Mohinga
- 15 pyas (without ah kyaw)
- 25 pyas (with ah kyaw)
Bananas
- 15 pyas for one banana
- 25 pyas for two bananas
Meal
- 50 pyas for a plate of rice
- K 1.50 – 2 kyats (with Hin)
March 4, 2024
Education Systems
- The following are examples of the Changing Education System.
- The terms “Old”, “New” and “Newer” depend on the context.
Old System : Options for Matriculation students

In the old system, Matriculation students can take
- Burmese
- Lower Burmese (for a restricted time)
- Optional Burmese
- English
- Optional English
- Mathematics
- Additional Mathematics
- Physics, Chemistry, …
- History, Geography, …
- Usually five Subjects (not restricted to Science only, or Arts only)
- One extra subject (as insurance)
Old System : Options for University Students

In the old system, University students can
- switch from one discipline to another
  e.g. Engineering back to Medicine, Pure Science, Arts …
- take Double Maths (Pure, Applied)
- take Triple Maths (Pure, Applied, Statistics)
- join B.L, B.ED, … (after their Bachelors)
- 3-year Special Honors (after Intermediate)
- 2-year General Honors (after Intermediate)
- …
New System : Options for Matriculation students

In the new system, Matriculation students
- take six prescribed subjects based on Science or Arts option
  e.g. Burmese, English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology (for Science option)
- 5-year Law degree
- 5-year Education degree
- can apply for Science Scholarship (SS)
- bypass the Intermediate and are admitted directly to the Institutes using the controversial Intelligence Level Aggregate (ILA)
- …
Newer Systems

The newer systems tried
- Regional College
- Moving some disciplines to the Ministry of Science and Technology
- “Compressed” academic terms [to make up for school closures]
- Proliferation of Colleges and Technological Universities [without the needed resources]
- “Hybrid” nomenclature :
  Professor
  Associate Professor
  Lecturer (instead of Assistant Professor)
- Multiple Professors in a Department
  One designated as Head of the Department
- Having high percentage rate of success in examinations [without maintaining the quality and integrity]
March 3, 2024
Soul mates
Some found their soul mates while working or studying at UCC.
- Aung Aung & Ma Kyin Mya
  Moved to Singapore
- Aung Myint Oo & Ma Thida Khin
  Moved to Singapore and USA
- Boe Ba Shan & Ma Phyu Phyu Win
  Moved to Singapore
- Htay Aung & Ma Tin Tin Hlaing
  Moved to Australia
- Kyaw Zwa Than (Jaws) & Ma Khin Khin Kyu (K-cube)
  Moved to Singapore, Canada and USA
- Myint Oo & Ma Tin Tin Hla
- Myint Swe & Ma Nge Ma Ma Than (GBNF)
- Myint Zaw & Ma Nwe Nwe Win (Judy)
- Sein Myint (Bei Gyi) & Ma Sao Mon Sint (Cindy)
  Moved to USA
- Sein Myint Maung & Ma Khin Aye Mu
  Moved to NZ and Australia
- Soe Than & Ma Wai Wai Than
  Moved to USA
- Than Maung Maung & Ma Khin Si Thoung
  Moved to USA
- Than Tun & Ma Hla Win (GBNF)
  Moved to USA
- Thaung Tin & Ma Tin Tin Aye
  Founders of KMD
- Thein Oo & Ma Than Than Tint
  Founders of Ace
- Win Hlaing & Ma Thida Kyi
- Win Myint & Ma Nu Nu Aung
March 3, 2024
SDYF (2)
- The monthly meetings of Swel Daw Yeik Foundation (SDYF) were mostly held at the house of U Khin Maung Tun (President).
- Some attendees make donation to SDYF at the meetings.
- U Khin Maung Tun has led by example to ensure that SDYF will have no or low overhead.
- He has donated and/or pledged K1500+ lakhs.
- He offers sumptuous meals for lunch meetings.
- At one meeting — preparation for the Annual General Meeting of SDYF — U Tin Latt (M85) also offered food donation. Most attendees enjoyed the President’s lunch and gladly accepted U Tin Latt’s food as “take out”.
Guidelines
- SDYF has guidelines to provide financial support for the health care of eligible sayas.
- For eligible sayas and sayamas, SDYF provides K4 Lakhs for hospitalization and an annual medical checkup.
- On a case by case basic, financial support is provided to sayas (e.g. Sayadaw Dr. Lwin Aung (A59), Saya U Kyaw Sein (M65), Saya U Ohn Maung (ChE68)) who need to visit clinics frequently and/or need long term care.
Discussions and/or Resolutions
- Spend K50 lakhs for the medical check up of eligible sayas and sayas
- Fund for vision check up and follow up operations
- Provisional financial support for use in presenting research papers overseas.
- “Total Care” program for eligible sayas and sayamas
March 3, 2024
NorCal RITAA Meeting
Soon offered to the monks at Mudita Shwe Kyaung

Mohinga, desserts … for all attendees

AGM meeting headed by Saya U Nyo Win (M65) and Saya U Myat Htoo (C68)

Saya U Myat Htoo (C68, Chair, Board of Directors)
- presented an Opening Speech
- later handed out awards to Sponsors and Donors
U Kaung Kaung Oo (a) Gordon (M83, President) and Daw Lillian (EC83) survived the raging fires in Napa, but they had to wait three weeks before returning to their “Home Sweet Home”. Due to 75 mph winds, a sizable percentage of the vineyards and homes took a heavy toll.
They donated to the Scholarship Fund and also encouraged their 83 Classmates (U Kyaw Myint, Daw Ni Ni Sein …) to pledge or donate.

Appreciation awards were presented to the Sponsors and Donors.
Saya U Nyo Win accepted the award for Saya U Tin Maung Nyunt (M60).
The complete list is maintained by U Ko Ko Zin (M84, Treasurer) and U Myint Swe (EP74, Secretary).

U Nyunt Than (M84, Associate Secretary) acted as Master of Ceremonies.

Several took photos and will send them to me and/or NorCal RITAA for posting.

There was Q&A session.
March 3, 2024
Coaches
Rowing
- Gerald Sein (San Maung)
- Dr. Harry Saing (Htut Saing)
Soccer
- Saya U Nyein
- U Sein Hlaing
Swimming
- Mya Thee
- Nyunt Soe
Table Tennis
- Saya Mao Toon Siong
Track and Field
- Kyaw Khin
- Kyaw Mra
March 3, 2024
Football (1)
- Khin Maung Tun (Goalkeeper)
- Kyaw Min (Goalkeeper turned forward)
- Tin Aung (Goalkeeper)
- Saw Thaung Tin (Auro, Goalkeeper)
- Gale (Goalkeeper)
- Gwan Shein (SPED)
- Suk Bahadhur
- Hla Htay
- Vernon Stiles (Tin Tun)
- Ko Ko Gyi
- Pe Khin
- Htoo War
- Tin Aung Moe
- Maung Maung (Navy)
- Maung Maung (RU)
- Aye Maung (Construction)
- Aye Maung (Air Force)
- Hla Tin (Kee)
- Collegian Nay Win
- Tun Kyi
- Kenneth Shein
- Tun Wain
- Than Soe (Suttee)
- Tin Han
RIT players who represented Burma
- Kyaw Htin
- Soe Myint Lwin
- John Tint
March 3, 2024