|
EDUCATION
|
Education, since the early
days, has been highly regarded in Myanmar. Nicolo Manucci, a Venetian who
travelled in Myanmar about 1700 A.D. described the country as "a kingdom
governed by the pen, for not a single person can go from one village to another
without a paper or 
writing". Like Manucci, many travellers from the West were impressed with what
was practically universal education for boys long before anything of the kind
existed in the European world. Life revolved round the village and the values
of "extended families" were strong. The village, then, was a self-contained
agricultural unit of community life. the monastery served as the centre of
culture and education where all children could learn the 3R's Education was
largely religious and ethical rather than economic-life and education were very
closely related in those days as it had been in mediaeval Europe. That
education or rather formal schooling was a preparation for life was introduced
into Myanmar with the coming of the British. Ironically, in this era of
diminishing personal and family values and an increasing awareness of the
environment and the world we live in, many educators in the West are returning
slowly to the idea that education is life itself and not merely a preparation
for life, and that life is education. |
| In present day Myanmar,
monastic education which had been the mainstay of education in the country
still exists side by side with the formal school system. The formal school
entrant age is 5 years. The school structure is part of the basic education
sector. |
|
MYANMAR EDUCATION GOAL
|
| "To create an education system that can generate a
learning society capable of facing the challenges of the knowledge age." |
|
MYANMAR NAING-NGAN EDUCATION COMMITTEE
|
| In order to lay the foundations of
an education system which is, equitable with the traditional, the cultural and
the social values and also in keeping with the economic and political
aspirations of the nation, the Myanmar Naing-ngan Education Committee with
Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council as chairman has been
established. |
|
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
|
| The Ministry of Education is
functionally the main sponsor of education and training, especially in the
areas of basic education, teacher education and higher education. Under the
Ministry of Education, there are ten departments, viz. |
-
Department of Basic Education No.(1)
-
Department of Basic Education No.(2)
-
Department of Basic Education No.(3)
-
Department of Education Planning and Training
-
Department of Higher Education (Lower Myanmar)
-
Department of Higher Education (Upper Myanmar)
-
Myanmar Board of Examinations
-
Myanmar Education Research Bureau
-
Department of Myanmar Language Commission
-
Universities Historical Research Centre
|
| As regards decision-making
process at the ministry level, a special coordination committee (referred to as
Executive Committee) is formed with Director-General and Chairperson of ten
departments as members in addition to the Minister and the two Deputy
Ministers. Decisions made at these committee meetings are implemented by
responsible personnel at departmental levels. |
|
Basic Education
|
| The administration and management
of basic education is undertaken by the three Departments of Basic Education.
These are Basic Education Council, Basic Education Curriculum, Syllabus and
Textbook Committee and Teacher Education Supervisory Committee. The departments
are responsible for matters concerning primary education, secondary education
(middle school and high school), the inspection and supervision of schools,
educational planning and project management and student affairs. |
| 2001 - 2002 [January] |
| Primary |
School
Teachers
School Children
|
36011
145677
4587511
|
| Middle |
School
Teachers
School Children
|
2112
56647
1795283
|
| High |
School
Teachers
School Children
|
959
17785
648650
|
|
| Number of Teachers |
| |
1997-98 |
1998-99 |
1999-2000 |
| Primary School |
152999
|
154801 |
154016 |
| Middle School |
53615 |
53958 |
53210 |
| High School |
14697 |
14400 |
16231 |
| |
221311 |
223159 |
223457 |
|
|
Education Promotion Programmes for Basic Education
|
| During mid-May 1998, a nation-wide seminar on
the promotion of Basic Education was held in Yangon. The major outcome of the
seminar was the identification and formulation of ten programmes for promoting
quality education at the Basic Education level. |
 |
| A second seminar-Education Promotion Programme
Phase 11 was convened in May 1999 in Yangon and Mandalay to build on the
encouraging results of Phase 1. A further nine programmes were identified for
implementation beginning 1999-2000. |
| The education reforms following the
introduction of Education Promotion Programme Phases I and 11 imply a
discernible shift from existing education programmes and practices which will
enhance the quality of education as we prepare ourselves for the 21st
Century. |
|
Higher Education
|
| The major changes in higher education
took place with the enactment of the University Education Law of 1964. This was
later repealed and the University Education Law of 1973 was enacted. The
existing unitary system of higher education in the form of the University of
Rangoon (Yangon) and the University of Mandalay ceased to exist and numerous
university-level institutes came into existence. In order to administer and
coordinate the work of these institutions, the office of Universities
Administration was formed in 1964. In 1972, it was renamed the Department of
Higher Education. There are now two Departments of Higher Education--one for
Lower Myanmar and one for Upper Myanmar. These departments are thus the
executive branch of the Ministry of Education with the responsibility for
administration and coordination of higher education institutions under the
Ministry of Education. Academic and administrative policy matters relating to
higher education are managed by the two councils chaired by the Minister for
Education. These are: |
-
the Universities' Central Council and
-
the Council of University Academic Bodies
|
| The Universities' Central Council
is mainly responsible for the framing of broad policy and co-ordination of the
work of universities and colleges while the responsibility of the Council of
University Academic Board lies in the adoption of all academic regulations and
co-ordination of all academic work. |
| National Centre for Human Resource
Development [NCHRD] was established in Department of Higher Education [Lower
Myanmar] and Centre for Human Resource Development [CHRD] was established in
universities and colleges in 1998. |
|
Education for All
|
| Concerning with the Declaration of the
World Conference on " Education for all" held in Jomtien, Thailand in March 5
to 8, 1990, the Education Department had aimed at giving basic education to all
citizens of Myanmar in the year 2000 and to reduce by half the adult illiteracy
rate. In the year 2000. Myanmar Naing-Ngan aims at giving basic education to
all school-going age children and hopes that 80% of these children would
complete primary level education. For non-formal education, the Education
Department aims at reducing the adult illiteracy rate from 22 % to 11 %. |
|
Tertiary Education Institutions
|
| There are also 60 Tertiary
Education Institutions under other Ministries and the Public Services Selection
and Training Board. For instance, the Ministry of Health is responsible for
medical education and other health-related education. The Ministry of
Agriculture and Irrigation is responsible for the Institute of Agriculture, and
the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Livestock Breeding and Fisheries and
the Ministry of Forestry are responsible for their respective institutions. The
University of the Development of National Races is administered by the Public
Services Selection and Training Board, the Degree Colleges of Nationalities
Youth Resource Development are administrated by the Ministry of Progress of
Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs. Since 1994, new
co-operative colleges and regional cooperative colleges have been opened by the
Ministry of Co-operative. |
| The Ministry of Defence established
the Defence Services Academy in 1954. In 1992, the Defence Services Institute
of Medicine and in 1993, the Defence Services Institute of Engineering were
further established. |
| Myanmar Aerospace Engineering and
Maritime University are scheduled to open in August 2002 by the Ministry of
Transport. |
| Universities and Higher Education
Institution [January 2002] |
| Sr.No |
Ministry |
University |
Degreee College |
College |
Total |
| 1. |
Education |
28 |
9 |
23 |
60 |
| 2. |
Science and Technology |
5 |
46 |
- |
51 |
| 3. |
Health |
14 |
- |
- |
14 |
| 4. |
Defence |
4 |
1 |
- |
5 |
| 5. |
Cooperative |
- |
1 |
3 |
4 |
| 6. |
Culture |
2 |
- |
- |
2 |
| 7. |
Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development
Affairs |
- |
2 |
- |
2 |
| 8. |
Agriculture and Irrigation |
1 |
- |
- |
1 |
| 9. |
Forestry |
1 |
- |
- |
1 |
| 10. |
Livestock, Breeding and Fisheries |
1 |
- |
- |
1 |
| 12. |
Civil Service Selection and |
1 |
- |
- |
1 |
| 13. |
Training Board Transport |
1 |
- |
- |
1 |
|
Total |
59 |
59 |
26 |
144 |
|
|
MYANMAR BOARD OF EXAMINATIONS
|
| Prior to 1972 the system of high
school examination in Myanmar and other government examinations were controlled
by the commissioner of examinations who held concurrently the post of Director
of Education. The Matriculation examination was held by the Matriculation
Examination Board of Yangon University. In 1972 after the reorganization of the
whole administrative machinery of the country, the Board of Examination was
duly formed and headed by a full-time chairman. |
|
MYANMAR EDUCATION RESEARCH BUREAU (MERB)
|
Myanmar Education Research Bureau (MERB) first came into
existence under the name of Burma Education Research Bureau (BERB) in 1966. It
gained its legal status in 1973 by the enactment of the Burma Education
Research Law. 1t is headed by a full-time chairman and is mandate is to promote
and support research activities in education. It has the administrative
capability and flexibility and resources necessary for research execution and
collaboration with other bodies within and departments outside the Ministry. |
|
DEPARTMENT OF MYANMAR LANGUAGE COMMISSION
|
After a series of organizational and
functional changes, the present commission consisting of members appointed by
the Cabinet and a department under the Ministry of Education providing its
management and operational requirements assumed its s
present form in 1983. |
|
Aims and Objievtives
|
| The Myanmar Language Commission Act
of 1975 prescribes the aim of developing and preserving the Myanmar Language.
This is to be achieved through the compilation of comprehensive dictionaries,
based on traditional standards in terms of spelling, pronunciation, lexis,
grammar, syntax and meaning. |
|
UNIVERSITIES HISTORICAL RESEARCH CENTER
|
| In 1955, the Myanmar Historical
Commission was first formed under the aegis of the office of the Prime
Minister. In 1962, the Myanmar Historical Commission was transferred to the
Ministry of Culture. In 1972, the Commission was transformed into the
Department of Historical Research. In 1948, the Department was again
transferred to the Ministry of Education and was headed by the Deputy Minister
for Education (in addition to his duties). In 1986, the Department was merged
with the Department of History, University of Yangon. Then in 1991, it was
renamed as the Universities Historical Research Centre and became one of the
affiliated departments of the Department of Higher Education (Lower Myanmar).
This Centre has been upgraded to become a full-fledged Department with its own
Director-General on 26 August 1999. |
|
Student Sports Festivals
|
| To support the national objective,
"Uplift of health, fitness and education standards of the entire nation", Which
is one of the four social objectives laid down by the State, the student
festival is held yearly starting from 1990, in states and divisions as follows: |
Sr.
No. |
Year |
State/Division |
Town held |
No. of
Sport items |
No. of
competitors |
| 1 |
1990 |
Ayeyarwady Division
|
Pathein |
3 items |
764 |
| 2 |
1991 |
Yangon Division |
Yangon |
7 items |
1430 |
| 3 |
1992 |
Shan State |
Taunggyi |
8 items |
1430 |
| 4 |
1993 |
Rakhine State |
Sittwe |
10 items |
1812 |
| 5 |
1994 |
Kachin State |
Myitkyina |
11 items |
2424 |
| 6 |
1995 |
Kayah State |
Loikaw |
14 items |
2565 |
| 7 |
1996 |
Thaninthyi |
Dawei |
16 items |
2787 |
| 8 |
1998 |
Chin State |
Hakhar |
16 items |
2353 |
|
| Joint Projects with UNICEF |
| Starting from 1991 and 1994, Continuous
Assessment and Progression System (CAPS) and All Children in Schools (ACIS)
projects have been implemented respectively with the collaboration of UNICEF.
CAPS project has been implemented in 277 townships in 11967 primary schools in
the year 1998-99, providing access to schoolgoing age children, ACIS Project
has been implemented in 70 townships which consist of 9265 primary schools. |
|
Education Projects in Collaboration With UNDP/UNESCO
|
| With UNDP's project under the "The Human
Development Initiative (HDI)" the Improved Access to Primary Education in Rural
Aeras Project was implemented in the years 1994-96 in 9 townships. In 1997, it
continues to implement "The Human Development Initiative Extension (HDI-E)" and
expand another 4 project townships, making it a total of 11 townships. In these
townships "Improving Access of Children, Women and Men of Poorest Communities
to Primary Education for all Projects" are being implemented. |
| The above mentioned educational
projects in collaboration with the UN agencies are complimentary to achieve the
national EFA goals. |
|
Computer Training for Students
|
| To develop the awareness of computer
technology, computers have been installed and taught in basic education high
and middle schools. The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Science and
Technology have joined hand-in-hand to upgrade the computer skills of the
students, and as a result, computer training course No. (1/98) was introduced
in 1998.
|
|
E-education and Data Broadcastang System
|
In Myanmar, e-Education was launched on January 1, 2001. The
Ministry of Education has established the electronic Data Broadcasting System
and natonwide network of 304 e-education Learning Centres all over the country,
in all states and divisions. e-Education is a term which is being increasingly
used to cover the great opportunities offered by recent advances in information
and communication technology to prepare and deliver educational materials and
services anywhere, anytime. This slogan, "education anytime, anywhere" is not
new. It has been used with distance and open education provided via earlier
technologies including the postal service, radio and television, etc. What is
perhaps new now is the incredible range and potentially global reach of
e-Education via the Internet. |
| e-Education offers training and
learning solutions that did not exit a few years ago. It is learning made
faster, better and more efficient. And it combines all the benefits of
traditional instructor-led training and the riches of computer-based training
into complete learning and training solutions. Lectures, academic subjects and
technological subjects can be easily learnt through servers kept at these
learning centres, television and satellite. It is learnt that if one misses a
lecture while it is on air, one can learn it later, and that arrangements are
underway to open one hundred learning centres in every township by the
following year. This network of learning centres will provide every citizens
with opportunites for continuous lifelong education. |
|
University of Distance Education
|
| The University of Distance Education was
founded on 9 December 1992. Apart from Yangon University of Distance Education,
18 distance education departments were opened throughout the country, and
currently there are 26 Regional Centres. |
 |
| There were 88225 students in the year when the
University of Distance Education was first founded and now the number has
increased to 19894 students in the 1996-97 academic year. The total number of
students for the remaining universities is 149076. |
|
Regional Centres of Universities of Distance Education
|
University of Distance Education [Yangon]
University of Distance Education [Mandalay]
Dagon Regional Centre
East Yangon Regional Centre
Myitkyina Regional Centre
Kalay Regional Centre
Shwebo Regional Centre
Monywa Regional Centre
Pakokku Regional Centre
Yenanchaung Regional Centre
Sittwe Regional Centre
Magway Regional Centre
Pyay Regional Centre
Hinthada Regional Centre
Pathein Regional Centre
Lashio Regional Centre
Kyaingtong Regional Centre
Meikhtila Regional Centre
Taunggyi Regional Centre
Loikaw Regional Centre
Taungoo Regional Centre
Bago Regional Centre
Hpa-An Regional Centre
Mawlamyine Regional Centre
Dawei Regional Centre
Myeik Regional Centre
|
|
Universities of Foregin Languages
|
| The Universities of Foreign Languages
began as the School of Foreign Languages on 16 January 1964. It was renamed as
the Institute of Foreign Languges. It was upgraded to the University of Foreign
Languages in September 1996. |
| Up to 1989, there were 7 language
departments at the University of Foreign Language including the Myanmar
Language and both full-time and part-time courses were offered. |
| The University of Foreign Languages will
conduct B.A and M.A degree courses. Short-term intensive language proficiency
courses for staff of various Ministries were also opened. Basic level language
proficiency course for State scholars selected by the Ministries were also
given. The University of Foreign Languages also undertakes translation work and
interpretation work for government departments. English language proficiency
tests are administered at international standard, especially for scholars who
are going abroad for further studies. |
Beginning from the 1995-96 academic
year, the new-system one-year diploma course for English Language Proficiency
was opened. The course is for those who need English for occupational purposes.
The Mandalay University of Foreign Languages was opened in Mandalay in December
1997. |
| Ph D Courses |
| The PhD Courses were initiated in the
1994 academic year and the degree has already been conferred on two candidates. |
|
Doctorate Courses
|
| |
Universities |
Courses |
| 1 |
Yangon
|
16 |
| 2 |
Mandalay
|
11 |
| 3 |
Economic
|
9 |
| 4 |
Medicine |
14 |
| 5 |
Technology
|
16 |
| 6 |
Education
|
- |
|
| In 2001, there are 40 Doctorate people from
universities of Myanmar. |
|
The 75th Diamond Jubiliee of Yangon University
|
| The Yangon University held its 75th Diamond Jubilee
Anniversary Celebration with five objectives and 14 committees were formed and
celebrated on 1-7 December 1995 on a grand scale. |
 |
| On I December 1995, the Chairman of the
Committee to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee, the Myanmar Naing-Ngan Education
Committee Chairman unveiled the plaque of the Diamond Jubilee Hall. |
|
The School Family Day
|
| Regarding the quality improvement in education, new
innovations are now implemented at both Basic Education and Higher Education
such as the application of modern electronic equipment in learning - teaching
situations, the establishment of' the Human Resources Development Centre,
Curriculum Reforms and School Family Day celebration that can inform the
community what the school is doing. School Family Day is celebrated on 3
January every year. |
|
Literacy Movement in Myanmar
|
| Literacy campaign in Myanmar was first
initiated as a pilot project in 1965. Literacy classes opened during the years
from 1966 to 1968 were utilized in determining the strategies and modes of
organization, the creation of motivational environment, the search for the
methodologies of the teaching learning process, the preparation of text books
and learning materials and aids and the methods of assessing the product of
literacy classes. |
| The strategy adopted by the Myanmar Central Literacy
Committee in 1969 and the following years up to 1988 was a mass movement with
community participation utilizing local resources on voluntary basis in
selected area of region on township throughout the year until. |
 |
| The whole campaign area becomes literate. |
| The achievements and the success of these literacy
campaigns in Myanmar were internationally recognized by awarding Myanmar two
UNESCO prizes: the Mohammed Reza Pahlavi Literacy Prize in 1971 and the Noma
Prize in 1983 by 1988, 247 townships had been declared totally literacy areas.
A total of nearly 880000 volunteer teachers actively participated and over 2.1
million adult illiterates have become literates. |
| Since 1996 Township Nonformal Education
Committee [ NFE) have been launching literacy programmes under the guidance and
supervision of their respective State/ Divisional NFE committees. |
| Achievements of Literacy Programmes
[Townships] [1996-2000] |
| Year |
No. of
Townships |
No. of
illiterates |
Literacy
Classes |
Volunteers |
Newly
Literates |
| 1996-97 |
30 |
75635 |
6786 |
13003 |
46226 |
| 1997-98 |
59 |
115054 |
7195 |
18443 |
35190 |
| 1998-99 |
49 |
68191 |
6379 |
14128 |
32475 |
| 1999-2000 |
17 |
34502 |
3268 |
3370 |
21052 |
| 2000-2001 |
96 |
156826 |
13984 |
31639 |
142652 |
| Total |
251 |
450226 |
37576 |
80583 |
277635 |
|
|
Literacy Rate
|
| % of literate population (2000-2001) |
91,4% |
| % of literate females |
91.0% |
| % of literate males
|
91.7% |
|
|
Myanmar Acedemy of Arts and Science
|
| To enable academicians and
technocrats to play a greater role in the creation of a modern Myanmar, the
Myanmar Academy of Arts and Science with an Executive Committee of 24 members
and a membership of 717 members was established on 16 August 1999 with the
following five objectives: |
-
to help in the building of a peaceful, modern and developed nation by means of
the expertise and the knowledge of the members of the Academy;
-
to undertake research which will be beneficial to the nation as well as provide
guidelines for research activities;
-
to create new generations of academicians and technocrats who will benefit the
nation;
-
to establish a firm foundation for the pursuit of the arts and science which
are deemed essential for the development of the nation; and
-
to undertake programmes and measures for improving the educational aspirations,
training and expertise of all those citizens who are actively involved in the
development of their own nation.
|
|
The architectural design competition winners from from YTUT
|
| The government honoural two students from Yangon.
Technological University, who won the prize at the International University
Students level architectural design competition jointly organized by Oxford
Brookes University and the University of Florence, at the Diamond Jubliee Hall
on 5 October 2000. |
 |
| The theme of the competition is "Sustainable
Buildings for the 2000 and Prizewinner were Ma Khin Htet Htet Zaw and Ma Chaw
Kalya,the fitth-year student of architecture. |
|
|
New Century Resource Centers and Center for Anciunt MN Myanmar Manu- and
Mandalay in 2001
|
| New Century Resource Centre was
opened with the aims - to develop highlyqualified human resources required in
building a peaceful, pleasant, modern and developed nation, to launch
region-wise human resources development programmes, to make Myanmar society a
constant learning one, to rent books, CDs, video tapes and cassettes to enable
the people from primary education level to research level to study, through
audio and visual equipment, education and knowledge whose scope are getting
wider, to study modern equipment relating to computer science and information
technology, to obtain other information technology and consultancy services, to
hold seminars and exhibitions for the public from time to time and to conduct
courses. |
| The objectives of CAMM are to preserve
Myanmar traditions and culture, to disseminate knowledge about the flourishing
of Myanmar literature of high standard, to enable researches and the public to
study ancient plam-leaf manuscripts, treatises and stone inscriptions, to keep
and preserve ancient palm-leaf manuscripts, treatises and stone inscriptions
together at one place and to run courses occasionally. |
| In the NCRC and CAMM there are Computer
Training Centre, e-Education Training Centre, e-Education Resource Centre and
Language Lab. |
| NCRC and CAMM will be open phase by phase
plans are to be made to set up such centres in major towns of states and
division. |
|
Exhibition of I-h Students's View on Myanmar
|
| The Exhibition of 1T Students' View
on Myanmar was held at Tatmadaw Hall in Yangon from 7 to 10 September 2001. |
| In the Exhibition, skills on designs
demonstrated by the students with the use of computers at the School Profile
Project Booth. There are others booths such as Science Demonstration Booth for
use of computer softwares, Video Conferencing Booth for interactive methods on
learning, Have Fun With Computer Booth for the visitors and Power Point Booth
for demonstration of developments of States and Divisions. |
| The students demonstrated interactive
On-line Learning via V-SAT Network booth and their painting on national
development at the computer painting booth. |
| The Geographical Information System
of Zoology Department, Geography Department, History Department, University of
Distance Education [Yangon] Institute of Economics and University of Foreign
Languages [Yangon] participated in research on data based design, environment,
maps. Ancient Myanmar Literature Department of Universities Central Library of
Yangon University participated in preservation of palm-leaf, parabeik and
inscriptions with the use of computer Web-Page of universities and educational
matters of higher education sector shown on Website at the multimedia
application in Higher Education Booth. |
