TTC Yangon

Infobox School
name =TTC Yangon, Kamayut


imagesize=80px
motto ="All for All"
type =Comprehensive School
established =1931
rector =Dr. Khin Zaw
principal =Dr. Nanda Htun
students =8498
staff =167
location =Kamayut, Yangon, Myanmar
campus =Kamayut campus, Hlaing campus
website =http://www.ttc-school.org

TTC Yangon is known as one of the top and elite high schools in Yangon, Myanmar. Although it is termed a high school, the TTC student body comprises students from Grade I (til 2006, "Kindergarten") to the highest standard in the Myanmar High School Education System, Grade Eleven (till 2006, "Tenth Standard" ). The official name of the school is Practising High School, Yangon Institute of Education. 'TTC' stands for Teachers' Training College which refers to the fact that the high school is part of the Institute of Education whose trainee teachers are attached to the School as part of their course. The name TTC has become more colloquial with the populace.

History

The school was established in 1931 and its main campus is situated on Pyay Road in Kamayut Township. It was established as an experimental school by the colonial education authority as a new means to deliver effective scientific education to the student body. Thus, the school did not fall under either the colonial government's school syllabus (consisting mostly of mission-schools run by the religious order), nor the newly founded Nationalist Vernacular school network. Consequently, after Myanmar (Burma)'s independence, the school remained somewhat independent of the Basic Education High School network, although they shared the same government implemented syllabus.

Up till the outbreak of the Second World War, the school also had boarding facilities, mainly for students from out of town. The school was served by the Rangoon Electric Tramway's University Line along Pyay (then Prome) road.

General Information

The Yangon Institute of Education (Lower Myanmar) independently runs the TTC High School with the joint administration of Higher Education Department, unlike the rest of the schools in the country which are administered by Basic Education Department. TTC Yangon is therefore the only significant school of considerable size outside the Basic Education School network. It also is the largest school in terms of student body, comprising nearly 9000 students.

TTC has two campuses: Pyay Road (Kamayut Township) campus and Hlaing campus. Kamayut campus is 25.7 acres wide, and is the main site of the school, housing much of the school's original pre-war buildings. Hlaing campus was acquired only fairly recently, around 2000. It is 23.96 acres wide, and comprises the unused buildings of the failed Regional College system of the 1970s. Both campuses are unique from much other schools'campuses for their university-like locations. Hlaing campus contains some lecture theatres, the only ones owned by a high school in Myanmar, although they are seldom used.

Kamayut campus is borderred by three universities: University of Medicine-1, Yangon, University of Education, and University of Distant Education, sharing the same main street, Thaton Street.

Hlaing campus was once used as a regional college, Regional College. However, due to changing education systems, the whole Regional college system and campuses were abandoned. TTC rented the Regional College 2 campus, beginning from late 2000. There are about 130 classrooms across 18 buildings shared between the two campuses. A total of 9000 students from kindergarten (Grade 1) to 10th Standard (Grade 11) are studying at TTC and around 167 teachers and support staff.

TTC is somewhat notorious for having over-crowded classrooms, each averaging around 70-80 students, well above effective education capacity, though this average class size is shared by much of the schools in and around Yangon, due to the overwhelming student population. The situation in Kindergarten is worse, with students having around 90+ students. However, it must be noted that due to Myanmar's poor economic condition, these conditions are nearly the norm in city schools.

Student Body

TTC Yangon has the largest student body in Yangon and in Myanmar, numbering near 9000. A very huge student to teacher ration exists, like most of the schools in Myanmar. The students are spread across eleven standards or grades, from Grade 1 (formerly Kindergarten of KG) to Grade 11 (formerly Tenth Standard, colloquially "sei-dan")

Due to rising demand for student enrolment, the student body is in the shape of a pyramid, the younger students always outnumbering the older students (not because of transfers away from the school). In 2003, there were about 90 students per one of the twelve Grade 1 classes, compared to around 60 per one of the eight Grade 11 classes (a difference of nearly 600). However, new classes are being formed in every intake to handle the extremely pressing demand.

Uniform

Like all public schools in Myanmar, TTC requires that students wear the school uniform at all times. There are two sets of uniform, one for wear from Kindergarten to 4th Standard (Grades 1 to 5), and another, more traditional one for wear from the 5th Standard to 10th Standard (Grades 6 to 11). But all uniforms are of the same colour - a white shirt or blouse, with a green garment for the torso.

School Badge

The main distinguishing feature of the TTC student's uniform is the lack of the sewn in school badge - all other school require that the school name and badge be sewn into either the shoulder sleeve or above the single left side pocket.

In TTC, a small brooch like badge, bearing an oil lamp (in both Buddhist and Burmese terminology, the oil lamp represents wisdom and education), with school's name. TTC Yangon is the only school which utilizes such a badge system.

Boys Uniform

* From Kindergarten to the 4th Standard, male students are required to wear a white shirt (with or without the collar), tucked into a green pants - either short or long. Tee shirts and sports shirts are not acceptable, though sports shirts are overlooked occasionally. Shoes and the traditional slipper, Hnyat-phanat are permitted as footwear.

* From the 5th Standard onwards, the students have to wear a white shirt (with or without the collar), and a green paso. Only the Hnyat-phanat is permitted. For formal wear, a long sleeved shirt without the collar is worn, over which a taikpone, a Burmese style Changshan, of either pin-ni (brownish vermilion) or white, is put on. Traditional Mandalay slippers, usually of velvet or other materials, are worn.

* Current uniform rules began in late 1977. Boys from Kindergarten through the 7th or 8th Standard may wear either green shorts or green longyis until 1977. Before nationwide white and green uniforms were introduced in the mid sixties, the TTC uniform consisted of a white shirt and light green longyi with vertical white stripes.

Girls Uniform

* From Kindergarten to the 4th Standard, girls can wear either skirts or pants, with a white shirt. Girls usually wear slippers.

* For 5th Standard onwards, the uniform also becomes more traditional like its male counterpart. The girl must wear either a front opening (yin-zee) or side opening (yin-phone) traditional Burmese blouse, with the Htamein as the lower garment.

* Current uniform rules began in late 1977. Girls from Kindergarten through the 7th or 8th Standard may wear either green skirts or green Htamein until 1977. Before nationwide white and green uniforms were introduced in mid sixties, TTC uniform was a white shirt and light green Htamein with vertical white stripes.

Accomplishments

It ranks the highest overall in Burmese High School in the Myanmar University Entrance exam, conducted by the Myanma Examination Board. TTC's student body produces many high scoring students both in terms of collective subjects and individual subjects, making into the very competitive "nationwide outstanding top-ten students' list", colloquially known as the whole-Burma or top ten list quite often.

Although Myanmar's education system is extremely academic oriented, TTC has been able to produce some good athletes and artists. TTC has produced many nationally-selected athletes, in the fields of swimming, football (soccer), sailing, wushu, and badminton, have won medals in both national and international competitions, such as South East Asian Games.

Many students have also won medals in "Myanmar Traditional and Cultural Performing Arts Competition" ("So-Ka-Yay-Tee") and win painting competitions.

Renovations and Repairs

TTC relied on already existing buildings for much of its existence. Much of these buildings were on loan from the Yangon Institute of Education. However, by 2000, the grants expired and were not renewed. In order to cope with the loss of nearly three-quarters of its classroom capacity, a vigorous building and renovation programme was implemented, resulting in the renting of the RC-2 College and the building of a wholly new school wing. Five wings from RC-2 were rented from the Ministry of Education in 2000, and the completion of a three-storey wing. With the rising use of the internet and government promotion of information technology, two IT labs have been added to the campus facilities, though they are not frequently used, due to the overwhelming student population. A new assembly hall 'Anu-pyin-nyar' hall and a chemistry lab have also been added.

Facilities

"Pyay Campus"

*The Library building was built solely with the funds generously donated by Daw Mya Than.
*A Football field - the field is steeped in history, as it was the site of a small nationalist vernacular school, which rented the field from 1932-1934. The field also housed refugee huts during the Second World War. The Student Volunteer Army of the Union of Burma, called "Thanmani-tut" in Burmese (lit. Steel Forces), were trainined in the field. Most of the Thanmani-tut were used in the reconquest of the country from rebels and KMT forces.
*One Canteen - although Pyay Campus has around 3000 students, the canteen is small in comparison to the student body.
*Yadana Hall - former assembly hall, used for Ka-htein and other religious ceremonies.
*Anu-pyin-nyar Hall - new assembly hall built in the new school wing, now used for school reunions and functions
*Biology-Chemistry Lab - when the old lab was handed back to the Institute of Education, a new one was built to replace it, in the new school wing. However, like all schools in Myanmar, equipments and chemicals are extremely hard to replace (high student population, funding issues, lack of teachers) and thus is seldom used.
*PT(Physical Training) Hall - an older occupant of the campus, it was renovated in 2004. It also serves as a back-up assembly hall and badminton court.
*IT Lab - built in the new school wing under the government's policy to embrace information technology, the IT lab also shares the same problems with the Biology-Chemistry Lab, though it is more frequently used.

"Hlaing Campus"

Due to insufficient space in the Pyay Campus, much of the modernisation and equipment are channelled to the Hlaing Campus

*A new IT lab, better equipped than the one at Pyay Campus. Some lessons are held in the lab.
*Canteen - a very large canteen compared to the one at Pyay Campus
*8 Lecture Theatres - used time to time for exams and certain classes
*Football field
*PT Lodges - used for ping-pong and other games requiring only small spaces.

Principals (Headmasters/Headmistresses)

*??? (1931-1936)
*U Ba (1936 - 1952)
*U Kyaw Ngwe (1953 - 1956)
*Daw Aye Tin (1956 - 1963)
*Daw Thein Han (1963 - 1976)
*Daw Tin Tin Aye (1976 - 1988)
*Daw Khin May Yi (1989 - 1992)
*Daw Khin Nwe Tint (1992 -1997)
*Daw Khin Win Aung (1997 - 2004)
*U Myo Win (2004 - 2007)
*Dr Nandar Htoon (2007 - Present)

Internationally Outstanding Students/Alumni/Staff - Academic and Professional

*Dr Ma Tin Win (Institute of Education) - Famous academic and historian on Myanmar. Completed her Doctor of Philosophy degree (PhD) in the former USSR. She is a former teacher from TTC.

*Yi Mon Aye (1997) - Achieved the highest overall score in British General Certificate of Education Advanced Level (A-levels) throughout the whole of UK and was awarded a prize from the Royal Society of Chemistry for achieving top marks in A-level Chemistry. Won a gold medal in the British Council’s first International Student Awards. [" [http://www.hero.ac.uk/uk/studying/archives/2003/dear_teacher_5059.cfm Yi Mon Aye] "]

Graduated from the University of Oxford, UK, Yi Mon Aye spent some time at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA, as visiting undergraduate scholar/researcher. [" [http://lib.bioinfo.pl/pmid:16925415 Published Works] "]

*Suu Myat Soe (2000) - South East Asian Games Gold Medalist & World-Class sailor

Nationwide Outstanding Top-Ten Students' List

Related External Websites

* [http://www.ttc-union.org TTC Union page]

References

[http://www.hero.ac.uk/uk/studying/archives/2003/dear_teacher_5059.cfm Yi Mon Aye]