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STUDENT ADMISSION AND MEDICAL GRADUATES

To pursue a course of study in Medical College or Faculty of Medicine, a candidate should have passed the Intermediate Examination of the University of Rangoon in Chemistry, Physics and Biology (the first M.B., B.S. examination) or one of the examinations recognized by the General Medical Council of Great Britain. The annual admission of new students into Medical College was usually less than 30 in number with an exception of a few occasions. Even then, it was just over 30 till 1948. (table I). From data from Table 2, only 20% of the students in the Medical College belonged to Burmese Nationals, and it is not surprising how few national doctors were produced during the colonial period. There was no student intake during 1942-45, as the University of Rangoon and Medical College suspended classes during the war.

STUDENT ADMISSION AND GRADUATES UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE (1)
BEFORE INDEPEDENCE (TABLE I)
Period Annual_intake Total_students_rolls M.B.,B.S. graduates Remarks
1928-29 ? 67 10 * 8LM & S on the roll
1929-30 19 71 7
1930-31 13 72 12 * 1LM & S passed
1931-32 23 78 8 * 3LM & S passed
1932-33 15 79 14 * 1LM & S passed
1933-34 24 88 9
1934-35 25 99 9
1935-36 31 118 ?
1936-37 ? ? ?
1937-38 ? 151 17
1938-39 16 144 ?
1939-40 ? 153 12
1940-41 30 161 8
1942-45 No classes
1947 7

Note: Total MBBS graduate:- 140 during 25 years under British Rule* Five out of Eight L M & S course students graduated.? Data were not available.(Ref. The Annual Reports by The Principals of Medical College from 1929 to 1941) After gaining independence in 1948, the government of Independent Burma, because of the need of the country, allowed all students who gained “Eligible Marks” in the Intermediate (First year M.B.,B.S ) examination held by the Rangoon University to pursue medical studies. This policy led to four to five fold increases in the number of students in the Faculty of Medicine. The total number of students on the roll which never reached 200 during the British administration was 289 in 1949, 368 in 1950 and 421 in 1951 From the start, up to 1947, during the 25 years under the British Rule, there were only 140 MBBS doctors produced by the University of Medicine ( 1 ). From time of Independence up to today, during 53 years of independence 10,006 doctors had been produced by the University of Medicine (1) alone. (Table- III ).

CLASSIFICATION OF MEDICAL STUDENTS BY RACES (MODIFIED) (TABLE II)
Period Burmese Nationals Indians Total
1929-30 16(22.5%) 40 71
1930-31 13(18%) 38 72
1931-32 13(16.6%) 36 78
1932-33 25(31.6%) 38 79
1933-34 15(17%) 47 88
1934-35 22(22.2%) 56 99
1935-36 27(22.8%) 69 118
1936-37 ? ?
1937-38 ? ?
1938-39 20(13.8%) 102 144
1939-40 ? ?
1940-41 22(13.6%) 100 161
STUDENT GRADUATES AFTER INDEPENDENCE UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE (1)
AFTER INDEPEDENCE(TABLE III)
Period MBBS graduates Remarks
1948-57 532
1958-67 1451
1968-77 2605
1978-87 2936
1988-97 1860
1998-2000 622

Note: MBBS graduate from the University of Medicine ( 1 ):- 10006 during 53 years of Independence (Ref. Professor Min Sein, The Dean, Medical College Annual Magazine, 1951, page 5). HOSTEL ACCOMMODATION At the close of the year 1929-30, it was found that the second M.B.,B.S . undergraduates were provided with accommodation at the University Halls (Tagaung and Prome Halls) situated on Prome Road and the Third and Final year students were put up at Commissioner Road (now Bogyoké Aung San Road) Hostel. The woman students also occupied the Women’s Hostel at Commissioner Road. Later all male medical students were accommodated in Tagaung Hall and woman students in lnya Hall of the University College of Rangoon. Owing to The progressive increase in the numbers of University College (Rangoon) students requiring accommodation in the above hostels, the Principal of University College notified the Medical College that the hostel accommodation would no longer be available for medical students. Therefore the government was approached for renting of buildings as temporary hostels until such time that a permanent hostel for the Medical College had been materialized. The government approved this proposal. (Ref. Ibid for the year 1939-40). This project fell through due to the war. When the Faculty of Medicine was reopened in 1946 the medical students had to be accommodated in the hostels of the Rangoon University. The need for hostel became most urgent, as the number of students had increased many folds after the Independence of the country. (Ref. Professor Min Sein, Medical College Annual Magazine, 1951, p.6)

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