THE devoted staff at a special school in Yangon are providing the love, care and training that is giving boys from troubled or needy backgrounds opportunities to achieve success in their lives.

“All staff and teachers here have long attached importance to them because they have not received the devotion of their parents,” said Daw Myint Myint Hlaing, the headmistress of the Kaba Aye Boys’ Training School, under the Department of Social Welfare, which is currently caring for 250 boys.

“They did not get parental love so we make personal sacrifices and care for them as if they are our own children. The school motto is ‘our school has kind and tender hands to look after the children and make them happy’,” the headmistress said.

“We build up their physical strength and grow their intellect, understanding and standards of morality till they get a clear conscience to distinguish between right and wrong,” she said.

The boys are provided with a primary education and then transferred to the Kyaik-wine Boys’ Training School.

Boys who are not interested in continuing their studies are provided with vocational training.

The school provides formal and informal education and vocational training to children so they can learn to be financially independent and reintegrate into society.

“They have good education opportunities and are closely taught by the teachers ahead of exams,” Daw Myint Myint Hlaing said.

“Those who pass matriculation can retain subjects they like at university level. Three former boys of the training school have recently graduated — in Computer Science, Physics and Information Technology — and can now look forward to successful careers outside,” she said.

“We often find them weak at learning, understanding and thinking in a logical way, so we emphasise achievement in education and try to build self-awareness, she said.

The Department of Social Welfare arranges for the boys to attend vocational courses on plumbing, masonry, carpentry and electrics twice a year. They can be occupied with cane-weaving and car servicing work set up in the school compound if they wish.

“But we do sometimes run into difficulties when we try to improve their morality because their ability to retain good values can be weak. Sometimes boys who have just arrived at the school try to run away,” she said.

“They may attempt to run away from school when no one is looking and then commit offences again but they arrive back here eventually because they do not have shelter or a home to stay in. We worry because out of school they revert to type and get into trouble,” said Daw Myint Myint Hlaing.

“But they never show us defiance and they behave well in our presence. We need a long time to change their nature and temperament in a positive way. We cannot change them just within a few months even though we give counselling every day,” she said.

“Some boys know they are at risk on the streets at night and realise we treat them with kindness and consideration,” said Daw Myint Myint Hlaing.
“Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to them and we offer our deepest understanding on their loss of love.”

They can watch television or videos, listen to cassettes and have karaoke sessions. They play chess and draughts and go on regular excursions. The school instructs the boys in the Buddha’s teachings on moral development.
There is a library to enable the boys to improve their knowledge and sporting facilities.

The school on Kaba Aye Pagoda Road in Mayangone township, is funded by the government and Daw Myint Myint Hlaing said it also welcomes donations from wellwishers.

“We warmly welcome generous benefactors,” she said.