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Education English Taunggalay Buddhist College (TBC)

📣 Taunggalay Buddhist College (TBC) Officially Launches Online Learning Program

Hpa-An, Myanmar — July 14, 2025

Taunggalay Buddhist College proudly launched its inaugural online academic program today, marking a significant step in bringing higher education to the monastic and rural communities of Myanmar through modern technology. The launch begins with its first cohort of 30 students—28 young monastics from Taunggalay Monastery and 2 lay students from Taunggalay village—who will be pioneering the college’s innovative learning journey.

Built on a Learning Management System (LMS) inspired by Moodle, Taunggalay Buddhist College offers a two-year online degree program that blends traditional Theravāda Buddhist education with modern academic disciplines such as mathematics, chemistry, English, and physics. This initiative represents a bold mission: “Where Buddhism Meets Science.”

Before beginning their academic coursework, students will first complete New Student Orientation (NSO 0001)—an introductory course designed to help them navigate the LMS, get comfortable with digital learning tools, and understand the college’s expectations and community values.

The college’s online model includes:

  • Downloadable learning materials
  • Interactive quizzes at the end of each unit
  • Peer-reviewed assignments
  • Discussion forums for collaborative learning

Photos and screenshots from the platform show students’ early engagement, including discussion posts and sample quiz questions.

Disclaimer: Some of the course images are generated using AI for inspirational purposes only and may not accurately depict real-life situations.

The official website of Taunggalay Buddhist College is also now live, offering more information on admissions, curriculum, and upcoming events.

This launch not only signals a new chapter in the history of Buddhist education in Myanmar but also demonstrates how technology can serve as a bridge between tradition and innovation—bringing the Dhamma into the digital age.

🔗 Visit the college website: https://buddhism.mahar.asia

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Education English PEDU Summer Courses

PEDU Successfully Concludes Digital Literacy & Building Minimum Viable Products Summer Course (2025) with Grand Graduation Ceremony

Taung Galay, Karen State – May 25, 2025

The Phlon Education Development Unit (PEDU) proudly celebrated the completion of its intensive “Digital Literacy and Building Minimum Viable Products (MVP)” summer course with a vibrant graduation ceremony at Anusasanee Meditation Hall, Taung Galay Pariyatti Paṭipatti Śāsana Vihāra.

Distinguished Attendees

The event was honored by the presence of:

  • Head monks from neighboring villages
  • Elders of Taung Galay (ဖၠုံပညာ့တွါန့်) community
  • PEDU Youth Network members
  • 12-Seasons Karen Traditional Don Dance Group
  • Teachers from Taung Galay Monastic School
  • Young novices and nuns of the monastery

The ceremony commenced with an inspirational address by Program Director and Principal (Sayadaw) Ashin Uttama, who emphasized the transformative power of digital skills and innovation for community development.

Project Showcase: Turning Ideas into Reality

Over 41 days (80+ both lecture and project hours), participants engaged in rigorous theoretical and hands-on learning, culminating in eight impactful projects:

  1. Project PEDU – Community education initiatives
  2. Project Blood Donation – Awareness campaigns for life-saving donations in collaboration with PEDU Jivita Blood Donation Team 
  3. Project East Pwo Karen – Digital preservation of indigenous language and literature
  4. Project Dish Detergent – Eco-friendly cleaning solutions
  5. Project Hydroponics – Solar-powered sustainable farming
  6. Project Book Archive – Digitizing the books written by Dr. Ashin Pin Nya Tha Mi, head of Patrons, (Chief Sayadaw) on https://books.mahar.asia

Each team presented their Minimum Viable Product (MVP), demonstrating problem-solving skills and technical proficiency gained through the training.

Certification and Celebrations

Participants received completion certificates, recognizing their dedication to mastering:

  • Digital literacy fundamentals (hardware, internet safety, AI basics)
  • Intermediate skills (website development, language-learning apps)
  • Advanced applications (freelancing, online research, MVP creation)

After the award-giving ceremony, guests enjoyed a communal meal.

Special Appreciation

We extend our deepest appreciation to all honored guests for your presence and encouragement, to the PEDU Channel – ဖလုံပညာ့ for live broadcasting this milestone, and to every volunteer, supporter, and well-wisher who contributed to the success of this event. The photo booth at the entrance of the venue was adorned with elegant floral arrangements, generously sponsored by Hpa-an Floral by Lu Ku, one of the alumni of the Taunggaly monastic school. Your collective efforts embody the spirit of community and progress that PEDU stands for.

A Vision for the Future

This program aligns with PEDU’s mission to bridge the digital divide and empower communities through education. As Sayadaw Uttama noted, “These skills are seeds for a self-reliant future, where technology meets tradition.”

Follow PEDU’s initiatives on Mahar.asia!

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Education English PEDU Summer Courses နွေရာသီအထူးသင်တန်း

Invitation to the Summer Course Completion Ceremony

Digital Literacy & Building Minimum Viable Products (MVP) (2025) conducted by Phlon Education Development Unit (PEDU)

We are honored to invite you to attend the graduation ceremony of the Digital Literacy and Building Minimum Viable Products (2025) summer course, which will be held according to the following schedule. Your presence and encouragement would be greatly appreciated.

Event Details
  • Time: 1:00 PM
  • Date: 25th May 2025 (Sunday)
  • Venue: Anusasanee Meditation Hall, Taung Galay Pariyatti Paṭipatti Śāsana Vihāra

Join us in celebrating the achievements of our participants!

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Education PEDU Summer Courses Technology

Taung Galay Monastery Hosts Hydroponics Workshop for Young Monastics

Hpa-an Township, Karen State

As part of the Digital Literacy and Building Minimum Viable Products (MVP) 2025 summer program organized by PEDU, a hands-on Hydroponics Farming Workshop was conducted at Taung Galay Monastery in Taung Galay village. The session was co-instructed by Saw Yair Min Sein, who played a key role in guiding participants through the practical assembly of hydroponic systems.

– Saw Yair Min Sein demonstrating PVC rack assembly.
– Collaborative construction of a circulating hydroponic system.
– Novices assembling hydroponic systems using recycled materials.

Focusing on sustainable agriculture, the workshop introduced young monastics to soil-less farming techniques. Saw Yair Min Sein, with his technical expertise, assisted learners in constructing PVC-based hydroponic racks and setting up automated solution circulation using electronic timers. Under his guidance, novice monks and nuns learned how to maintain proper nutrient flow and optimize growing conditions for plants.

The workshop emphasized practical skills; from measuring PVC pipes to programming irrigation cycles, enabling participants to replicate these systems in their communities. By the end of the session, each attendee had contributed to building a functional hydroponic setup, fostering teamwork and innovation.

This initiative reflects PEDU’s commitment to blending traditional education with modern sustainability practices, equipping young learners with skills for self-reliance. The Digital Literacy and MVP 2025 program continues to foster innovation at Taung Galay Monastery, bridging agriculture, technology, and community development. Future workshops will further explore agricultural technology—stay tuned for updates!

— Reported by Mahar Pyinnyar, Hpa-an Township

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Education PEDU Summer Courses Technology

Taung Galay Monastery Hosts Digital Design Workshop for Young Monastics

Hpa-an Township, Karen State

As part of the Digital Literacy and Building Minimum Viable Products (MVP) 2025 summer program organized by PEDU, a special workshop on Design Theory and Introduction to Canva was held at Taung Galay Monastery in Taung Galay village. The session was led by guest speaker Naw Ywa Phod Lei, a local expert from the village, who introduced young monastics to the fundamentals of graphic design and practical tools for digital creativity.

The workshop aimed to equip participants with essential skills in visual communication, an increasingly valuable asset in today’s digital world. Naw Ywa Phod Lei guided the attendees through the basics of design principles, such as layout, color theory, and typography, before transitioning into a hands-on Canva tutorial. The students, primarily novice monks and nuns, enthusiastically practiced creating social media graphics, posters, and simple logos under her instruction.

This session aligns with PEDU’s broader mission to bridge traditional monastic education with modern digital tools, empowering young learners with skills for both personal expression and potential income-generating opportunities. The interactive workshop encouraged creativity, with many participants showcasing their first-ever digital designs by the end of the day.

Workshop Highlights

Naw Ywa Phod Lei explaining design principles to attentive learners.
Young novice experimenting with Canva on laptop.

The Digital Literacy and MVP 2025 program continues to foster innovation at Taung Galay Monastery, combining technology, entrepreneurship, and local expertise. Stay tuned for more updates on upcoming sessions!

— Reported by Mahar Pyinnyar, Hpa-an Township

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Education PEDU Summer Courses

Taung Galay Monastery Hosts Workshop on DIY Dish Detergent as Part of Digital Literacy Summer Class

Hpa-an Township, Karen State – As part of the Digital Literacy and Minimum Viable Product (MVP) 2025 summer class organized by PEDU (Phlon Education Development Unit), a special hands-on workshop was held at Taung Galay Monastery in Taung Galay village. The session, led by guest speaker Daw Nan Khin Thet Mar Win, a local expert from the village, taught young novices and nuns how to make their own eco-friendly dish detergent.

The workshop aimed to combine practical life skills with the broader goals of the digital literacy program, which focuses on empowering students with both technological and entrepreneurial knowledge. Daw Nan Khin Thet Mar Win guided the participants through the step-by-step process of mixing natural ingredients to create an effective, low-cost detergent—a skill that can be useful for both personal use and potential small-scale business opportunities.

Most of the attendees were young monastics, who enthusiastically engaged in the activity, asking questions and taking notes. The session not only provided them with a new skill but also encouraged sustainability and self-reliance.

The Digital Literacy and MVP 2025 class, conducted by PEDU at Taung Galay Monastery, continues to offer innovative learning experiences, bridging traditional education with modern digital and entrepreneurial skills.

Below are some highlights from the workshop:

Students taking notes
Daw Nan Khin Thet Mar Win explaining the detergent-making process
Young novices carefully mixing ingredients

This initiative reflects the community’s commitment to holistic education, blending technology, sustainability, and local wisdom. Stay tuned for more updates on upcoming sessions in the program!

— Reporting by Mahar Pyinnyar, Hpa-an Township, the Karen State

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Education English Karen People

Believes and practices of Du wei bonfire

TheingiSoe1

Dagon University Commemoration of 25th Anniversary Silver Jubilee Research Journal Volume 9, No.1

Abstract

This paper is about the traditional beliefs and ritual practices of rural community of Poe Kayin national. They have their own characteristics and different cultural patterns. The objectives of this paper are to understand the ritual, religious beliefs and practices related to their socioeconomic life. The study area is Hlaing Kabar Village Tract, Hpa-an Township, Kayin State. The study was conducted with qualitative research methods: key informant interview (KII), indepth interview (IDI) and direct observation, participant observations were conducted to collect data. The religious rituals and traditional ritual are celebrated every month of their own calendar. In these festive months, the above mentioned festivities are respectively held in the villages, townships and states. Poe Kayin people hold traditional rituals in every season based upon their different assumptions. Among them, Du wei adherents used to pray and say oath at Du wei traditional secret place of Hlaing Kabar village. Du wei bonfire is one of the traditions of Poe Kayin. Du wei bonfire is called “Mee Si Taing” in Poe Kayin language and “Mee Pon Pwe” in Myanmar language. In fact, Du wei bonfire is based on religious belief of East Poe Kayin people. The purpose of celebrating bonfire is to wipe off bad omens, misfortune and evils. They believe that bad omens and evils are to be gone with the fire. The traditional bonfire is celebrated by Poe Kayin and non Kayin to avert impending misfortune. Everyone can participate in this ritual regardless of age and sex. According to study, Du wei traditional practices play a key role in the life of Poe Kayin race.

Key words: ritual, religion, belief, practice, function

Theingi-Soe-1-1Download

Original Source:

Theingi-Soe-1-1.pdf (dagonuniversity.edu.mm)

Believes and practices of Du wei bonfire | Dagon University, Myanmar

  1. Dr., Lecturer, Department of Anthropology, Dagon University ↩︎

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Education English Karen People

Ritual, religious beliefs and practices among Poe Kayin nationals living in Hpa-an township, Kayin state

PhD Dissertation

Theingi Soe

Department of Anthropology,
Dagon University,
Myanmar

May 2018

ABSTRACT

In Myanmar, over one hundred national ethnic groups are living nowadays. Each of the ethnic groups has their own characteristics and different cultural patterns. The main purpose of this thesis is to understand the ritual, religious beliefs and practices of a Poe Kayin ethnic group living in Hlaing Gabar Village tract in Hpa-an Township, Kayin State. The aim of this research is to find out the impact of ritual, religious beliefs and practices on their socio-economic life. The specific objectives of the research are -to find out Poe-Kayin’s religious belief and practices, to elicit how their religious belief influences on their social and economic function. The study was conducted with qualitative methods. Key informant interview (KII),In-depth interview (IDI) and Direct observation were conducted to collect data. It was found that, only Poe- Kayin nationals live in this region. Religious and moral values are a highly sensitive area involving beliefs and concepts about the various different kinds of Buddhist and animist beliefs are mixed by each individual. Everyone can participate in this ritual regardless of age and sex. Even people from the neighboring villages come to participate in some ritual which is held in respective village tract. They practice matrilineal descendant pattern for Poe Kayin nationalities. The traditional practice has been handed down to only women – one generation after another. Manna and taboo for marriage, pregnancy and confinement are found so there are a few cases for inheritance and divorce.

Key words: ritual, religion, belief, practice, function

Theingi Soe PhD ThesesDownload

Original Source: https://meral.edu.mm/record/2266/files/Theingi%20Soe%20PhD%20Theses.pdf

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