A Visit To Inle Heritage School (Nyaung Shwe)

Last Semester, return of our journey from Taunggyi, we visited to Inle

Heritage Private School. It's also
known as Bamboo school. Three
bamboo buildings resembling
spaceships draw nearly every
passerby’s attention. At first
glance, these bamboo and earthen
structures northeast of Inle Lake
could be mistaken for another
new hotel or guesthouse. But
seesaws and slides in front of the
compound reveal that it has been built with children in mind.

It is the very first private school in Nyaung Shwe and is open to any
child in the local community, with an affordable price tag and run by the
non-profit Inle Heritage Foundation. The founder, Daw Yin Myo Su, is
also managing director of two resorts. She stressed the need to have an
alternative school in the area recognized by the Ministry of Education,
but with more activities than typical government-run schools such as art,
sports, storytelling, and innovative and creative talks about the
environment, heritage, culture, nature and community.

The school launched its first class on June 1. It currently has a total of
five classrooms hosting 118
students, from nursery to second
grade, and boasts two playgrounds
in the compound. She plans to
expand the school to host up to 12
buildings, eventually providing
middle and high school education
as well. The school’s monthly fees
are 35,000 kyats ($25) for nursery and kindergarten and 40,000 kyats
(US$30) for first and second grades.

The unique architecture of the school is another reason why it stands out
from other standard school facilities in Myanmar, which are typically
multi-story concrete buildings with limited play space. With proper
insecticide treatment, bamboo structures can last several decades. It is
non-polluting and, according to architects, arguably more earthquake
resistant than cement and timber. Daw Yin Myo Su also highlighted the
school’s construction as a chance for her employees to learn how to
preserve bamboo and how to treat it so that it is more resistant and
durable for longer periods. The project was completed in partnership
with Thailand-based architectural and design company Bamboo Family.
Those who want to volunteer in this lovely and peacefully school are
warmly welcomed.

Isabella