Scouting Returns to Myanmar

Students from Basic Education High School 3 Dawei cook rice at Maungmakan Beach in December 2012 under a scouting program being trialled by the Ministry of Education. (Cherry Thein/The Myanmar Times)

During a State visit to Canberra, Australia the President of Myanmar Thein Sein expressed the desire to successfully re-establish Scouting in his country (It was banned by the former government in 1964). Chief Commissioner of Scouts Australia Reg Williams communicated this message to the World Organization of the Scouting Movement (WOSM).

Soon thereafter a delegation of WOSM officials visited Yangon and had long discussions with the Ministry of Education led by the Deputy Minister His Excellency U Aye Kyu, who was a Scout himself and even attended the meeting in Scout uniform. The ministry had initiated the re-establishment of a pilot Scouting program for 18 schools in December of 2012.

On December 28 100 students and 12 leaders trekked to nearby Maungmakan Beach for their first hike and today there are nearly 2,000 Scouts, both boys and girls, in 20 schools. 120 Scout Leaders attended a meeting of old Scouters on this past January, the oldest, Mr. U Henery Pan Aung, is 86 years old.

Nobel Laureate (and Girl Guide Leader) Aung san Suu Kyi, spoke to Scouts at a gathering held this year. Scouting is being co-ordinated by U Tin Nyo, a dedicated Scout Leader and member of the Myanmar Human Rights Commission.

Scouting was introduced in Myanmar under a program for British colonies established in 1910. The Union of Burma Boy Scouts was dissolved by the Ne Win government on March 1, 1964.