A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL
In 1920, an English Lady Miss Marry Chapman alone with her own money rented a house on Shan Road and started opening a school for the Deaf. With deep faith in her religion started the care of the deaf in Myanmar. Open pupil attended. At that time, no body thought that the deaf could be teaching to speak, read and write. Parents were not educated enough to understand that physical systems not being normal was the contributing, factor, not superstitious belief. The motto was of the “For the word of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ"
1923. The Present school premises (Wooden house) was bought and the “The Mary Chapman Training College for Teachers & School for the Deaf" was built by 1924 i.e. the Western extension. Daw Sein Tha the first Myanmar teacher was trained and ten pupils were taught.
1928. Two teachers Daw Sein Kyawt and Naw Mu Aye were trained and it took (4) years in training time for them. 12 pupils attended.
1929-30, Miss Mary Chapman had to take sick leave and eventually she had to go back to England fro good, on doctor’s orders.
1930, the School was than transferred to Bible Churchmen’s Missionary Society.
A Board of Management was formed, and Mrs. Green acting as Superintendent and Mrs. Green helping.
1933-35, Miss Marshall becomes Principal. The teachers Daw Aye Khin, Daw Rhoda and Daw Dora were trained, 25 pupils attending.
1935-40, Miss Sturman becomes Principal and Miss Leman Assistant Principal. Daw Htwe Yi, Daw Mya yi and Daw Hta Hta trained as teachers.
1940, when Second World War started the Principals went back to England and about 21 children and 3 teachers Daw Sein Kyawt, Daw Htwe Yi and Daw Hta Hta, evacuated to Mohnyein Bible School.
1943, Daw Sein Kyawt and Daw Hta Hta came back to Yangon to go to Henzada with two children. Two children had died of Malaria and the parents took the rest back. Daw Htwe yi married one of the teachers in the Bible school and stayed back in Mohnyein.
1946, Miss Sturman and Miss Leman returned.
1947, as more pupils joined the school more teachers were trained. They were Daw Tarrah, Daw Kitty, Daw Cho Cho, Daw Khin Myint and Daw Rita, The Training then took 3 year only.
1953, after Miss Sturman left Miss Leman became Principal. There were then between 60-80 pupils. The building in the South West was built with the donations froma Christian Group from Geneva.
1955-56, the Social Welfare Department of the government helped, and through them, the State Agricultural Marketing Board supplied rice for 3 years. Then no more aid was available.
1960-66, Miss Leman then had to leave and Dawn Seen Than became Principal. Then the B.C.M.s handed over the school to the Yangon Diocese to be held in Trust under its auspices. Anew the Bishop of Yangon Presides drew up constitution where- as Chairman of the Board .The present dining room was they built with contributions from Woman's auxiliary group in Yangon.
1960-64, Naw Beamie was sent to Kyaukse to open another school. The Upper Burma Methodist Mission Kindly let her use part of their school premise. 11 pupils attended and in 1963, Naw Aye Kyaing joined her. Due to lack of funds and the amount of pupils attending, the school closed.
1966-86, Daw Mya Yi became Principal. She trained 13 teachers and the school had more than over 100 pupils. 1984 a new building was built on the eastern side with the help of donation from Christoffl Blinden Mission, OXFAM, BCMS, parents and other donors. The school is for pupils from K.G to fourth standard. Many have passed the fourth standard government exams and some and have gone on to normal school and others taken vocational training under the guidance of their parents. Many old pupils have found meaningful jobs.
1986, when Daw Mya Yi retired the present Principal Daw Khin May Sint joined the school. She was previously employed as General Secretary of the Yangon Y.M.C.A she has also served on the Board of Management as Secretary since 1975.
Four graduated teachers have been trained in primary teachership and education for the deaf. Fifth standard was opened. Plans are being made to open up a day nursery and middle school level.
Have managed to bring out six Sign Language book for adding in teaching, with the help of C.B.M who contacted the expert on Deaf Education .Dr. Maliwan Tammasaeng of Sethsation School for the Deaf, Bangkok.
World Vision International also gives help in many ways together with parents, private individuals and other well wishes who are interested in the development of the handicapped. Tanks to them we are able to carry on the school quite efficiently.
1987, with the aid of Christoffel-Blinden Mission, Dr. Malliwan Tammasaeng and Educational Expert from Bangkok help us to issue Sign Language Book for the deaf children of Myanmar.
1989, another four books of Sign Language for Kinder garden classes was written by our teachers working it out with the deaf students.
- World Vision International provides us with some necessary teaching aids.
- Research work is going on to improve Speech Training in our own Myanmar ways.
1990-91, during the summer vocation, our teaching staffs worked out and completed a book of Sign Language to teach Myanmar grammar, opposite words, and part of the body. We continue our work on deaf dictionary too.
1992, in February , State Peace and Development Council Secretary I and Major of Yangon visited our school and contributed Kyat 300,000/- a starting fund for the construction of ( 45' x 110') new building needed for vocational training.
The Major of Yangon also donated a car MAZADA. T 2000 for school Ferry.
1993, the new two storied building for vocational training was opened in June. State Peace and Development Council Secretary I attended the opening ceremony. Vocational training given are Dress making, Machine and Hand Knitting, Macrame, Embroidery, Cooking, Bookbinding and Typewriting.
- In this building, we now have Audio logical Unit and special classroom for the pupils where they were taught speech with the use of hearing aids.
- We also have now a library and Alter room for regular worship service every week.
1994, this year 1½ year teachers training course was given with four trainees Naw Bway Say Wa, Babara Mya Mya Maw, Naw M Lay Ta Paw and Naw V Tu Paw. All four of them were appointed after they completed the training course in the month of January.
1995, through World Vision, Heart spring Welfare Centre, Wichita , Kansas, U.S.A Audio logical Unit sent four expertise to give one short course training from 16th to 30th Jan. They are Mrs. Linda Parmita Jacobs, (Director of Audio logy) Mrs. Carol Jarod Brown. (Clinical audiologist) Mrs. Terri Huubard. (Audio Meter Technician). Mrs. Jennifer Johnson (Director of Assessment and treatment). 12 teacher from our school, 3 from Deaf School Mandalay and doctors from ear department of E.N.T Hospital Yangon attended this course.
1996, Student Population of this year is (183), 123 pupils are provided with hearing aids during class hours. And other 1½ year teacher training course with 5 trainees is given the trainees are Daw Thida Thein, Daw Tin May Aye, U Thein Zar Lian , Daw Mai Nwe Ni , and Daw Mary Myintzy.
1997-1998, the fine trained teachers are appointed as a full time teacher this year.
This year, World Vision had stopped their regular financial support because of a change in their donors’ policy.
1999-2000 from June 1999, we have a soundproof classroom for teaching the children with hearing aids with two trained teachers. They help the children to hear and learn better pronunciations.
In the month of January World Vision help us to have another audio training with the some experts sent from Heart spring Welfare Centre (Audio logical Unit). Mrs. Jack E, Andrew, Ms Linda Parmita Jacobs, Mrs. Carol Jarad Brown and Mrs., Terri Hubbard conducted the 5 day course.

• This year 172 pupils are provided with hearing aids.
• Dedication of the new building was held in 15th January 2000.
• In March teachers started working on deaf dictionary.
• Christoffel-Blinden Mission help us to have one short course for teachers on deaf language Mr. Tom Bristow and Mr. & Ms Ron Brouilette ( expertise on deaf subjects) taught Basic Hand Signs, Methods to produce deaf dictionary , and methods and system to keep the Audio Unit and materials in good order.

2000-2001, two teachers Daw V Tu Paw and Daw Khin Pyu Pyu attended 3 months training Course given by Prof. U Myo Min of E.N.T Hospital Ear-testing techniques, fixing and up keep of hearing aids and apparatuses are taught.
2004 onwards will be bringing out nine textbook Vocabulary Signs fro use for the pupils in Yangon and Mandalay School for Deaf. Funds are much needed.
2005 after this year the already complied sign language Dictionary will we hope be quiet completed in addition, printed, will need funds.