Abstract

• This paper is focused on the introduction of Western Education in Mawlamyaing during the colonial period. In the early 19th century, the Westerners began to expand towards Myanmar with three purposes which are referred to as 3M Policy that are foreign merchant, missionary and military. At the end of First Anglo-Myanmar War in 1826, the British occupied Yakhine and Taninthayi. Since 1827, the British made Mawlamyaing as the earliest capital of Taninthayi until 1852. Mawlamyaing became an interesting place for the missionaries to propagate Christianity. American Baptist missionaries firstly arrived at Mawlamyaing in 1827, Roman Catholic missionaries in 1828 and Anglican missionaries in 1833. Before the outbreak of Second Anglo-Myanmar War, Mawlamyaing was the headquarters of American Baptist Mission from 1827 to 1852 and the headquarters of Roman Catholic Mission from 1830 to 1856. Christian missionaries concentrated on the development of western education among the native people as an important groundwork for their missionary work. In order to do so they established the missionary schools. During the colonial administration, western education became popular, because western education gave the chance to the students to get employment in the Government Service. Missionary schools could introduce Western education and produce western educated persons to certain extent. Some of them could play vital role in nation-building of Myanmar in later period.