Basic Education High School No. 6 Botataung
Basic Education High School No. 6 Botataung, located a few miles east of downtown Yangon in Botataung township, is a public high school, and one of the oldest high schools in Myanmar. The school initially offered three kindergarten classes - Lower, Middle, Higher known as LKG, MKG, HKG and First through Tenth Standard. It now offers classes from kindergarten to Tenth Standard.
Known during the British colonial days as St. Paul's English High School, the Roman Catholic parochial school was the top school of choice for the children of the elite. Many of the country's who's who in those days were alumni of St. Paul's. The school was nationalized in 1965. While it is no longer the leading high school it once was, the school continues to be among the better high schools in Yangon, serving mostly the children of middle-class families from downtown Yangon and vicinity.
The school's main three-story red brick colonial era building is a landmark protected by the city, and is listed on the Yangon City Heritage List.
History
The school was founded as St. Paul's English High School by the De La Salle Brothers, a Roman Catholic order in August 1860, eight years after the British had seized Yangon and all of Lower Myanmar. It was the second La Sallian high school in the country. The initial school was a wooden building on Barr Street and moved to its present site in 1886. Between 1900 and 1908, two new Thomas Swales-designed wings were added. Later in the 1930s, a study hall and refectory were extended.The all-boys school was among the few early schools that educated the children of the country's British officers, the Anglo-Burmese, the Anglo-Indians and the wealthy Burmese. Naturally, many of the notable colonial era names were St. Paul's alumni. The language of instruction was mainly English in the early days, and bi-lingual for some classes in the later days. Latin, science and higher mathematics were taught in the senior classes. Special interest classes such as Painting, and Carpentry and Woodcarving were also offered. The highlights of the school year were the annual sports and school concerts.
In April 1965, when Gen. Ne Win's military government nationalized private schools, the school was renamed to "Basic Education High School No. 6 Botataung". The primary language of instruction became Burmese. The school, which used to have a "Roll of Honor" for its outstanding students, steadily lost significance partly due to the new requirement to attend nearby schools as much as possible. Nevertheless, the school is still considered among the top high schools in Myanmar. Many well-to-do and wealthy families prefer to send their children to TTC and Dagon 1 High School. The elite do not hesitate to send their kids to English language private schools that cost US$8000 or more annually. Today, Botataung 6 attracts mostly the children of middle-class families from downtown Yangon.
The school has produced two top-ranked students, who finished first in the country's highly competitive University Entrance Examinations, one in 1974 and another in 1984.
Campus
Botataung 6 is one of the few high schools in Myanmar with a sizable campus, covering perhaps 75% of the entire city square block. The compound of St. Mary's Cathedral, north of the school, takes up the other 25% of the block. The school is bounded by Theinbyu Road to the east, Anawrahta Road to the south and Aung Kyaw Road to the west. The former Secretariat Compound, where Gen. Aung San was assassinated, is located across Anawrahta Road. The all-girls Botataung 4 High School and co-ed Botataung 5 High School are located in the vicinity of the school.The gated campus consists of some of the best facilities available in Myanmar:
- Landmark U-shaped three-story main building—East and West wings house ten classrooms each, labeled A through J; also a Physics laboratory and a Chemistry laboratory
- Aung Kyaw Hall, two-story annex building; houses school's main auditorium and school library
- Aung San Hall, two-story annex building
- Regulation size football pitch
- Smaller practice football pitch; also used as an outdoor volleyball court
- One indoor basketball/volleyball court
- Two tennis courts; also double as basketball courts
- Cafeteria
Programs
The school which produced notable scholars in the past has succumbed to the provant teaching style based mainly on memorization and rote learning. Due to severe lack of funding, the school's library and labs are rarely used. Teachers teach for and students study for the exams. Most students attend specialized private classes on specific subject matters. In a world where teachers must supplement their abysmally low salaries, many of the private classes are given by the teachers with the primary focus on exam-specific topics. The incestuous practice is typically an academic death knell for those not able to afford these special classes.
Cost
Although the schools are nominally free in Myanmar, in reality, parents still have to pay for school maintenance, donations and registration fees as well as books and uniforms. The overall costs quickly become considerable, even for middle class parents when the cost for evening tuition classes are factored in.Alumni
Academia and medicine
| Name | Notability | References |
| Ba Han | Preeminent lexicographer and lawyer Author of the University English–Burmese Dictionary Professor of Law at Rangoon University Attorney-General of Burma in 1957 | |
| Ba Than | First Burmese police surgeon in British Burma Founder of wartime hospital and medical school Japanese occupation First rector of the Institute of Medicine 1, Rangoon | |
| Norman Hla | First surgeon to perform a liver transplant in Myanmar | |
| Htin Aung | Scholar of Burmese culture and history Rector, Rangoon University Burmese Ambassador to Sri Lanka | |
| Sithu U Kaung | First chairman of Myanmar Historical Commission Director of Education Member of Currency Board of Burma | |
| Min Latt | Linguist of Burmese language, and writer | |
| Nay Oke | Well known private tutor of High School English in Yangon | |
| Tha Hla Shwe | 7th Rector of the University of Medicine 2, Yangon President of the Myanmar Red Cross Society | |
| Than Nyun | Rector, Yangon Institute of Economics Deputy Minister of Education Member, ASEAN Eminent Persons Group |
Business
Literature and arts
Music and cinema
| Name | Notability | References |
| Bo Bo Han | Popular singer in the 1970s | |
| Bo Lay | Singer | |
| Khine Htoo | Popular singer in the 1980s | |
| Ki Ki Kyaw Zaw | Hip-hop singer | |
| King Kong | Comedian | |
| G Latt | Singer | |
| Zinyaw Maung Maung | Two-time Myanmar Academy Award winning director | |
| Maung Myo Min | Myanmar Academy Award winning director | |
| Nine One | Hip-hop singer | |
| Bunny Phyoe | Hip-hop singer | |
| D Phyo | Hip-hop singer | |
| San Htut | Actor | |
| Soe Paing | Popular singer in the 1970s | |
| Tha Htwe | Hip-hop singer | |
| Than Naing | Popular singer in the 1970s; of band Playboy | |
| Tin Aung Moe | Singer | |
| Thu Maung | Myanmar Academy Award winning actor, singer and writer | |
| Maung Wunna | Two-time Myanmar Academy Award winning director | |
| Yan Yan Chan | Hip-hop singer; of band ACID | |
| Ye Lay | Popular Burmese hip hop artist | |
| Zaw Gyi | Hip-hop singer | |
| Zaw Min Lay | Singer | |
| Zayar Thaw | Hip-hop singer with band ACID; MP, Pyithu Hluttaw |