“Current scene in the
Education Sector”
Opportunities in Burma/Myanmar Briefing
A. Kyaw Thein
30 Nov 2012
Cautious Optimism

Rapid Political & Economic
reform

Socio-political issues

Conflict resolution and
protection of human rights.

Constitutional reform
 Democratic
constitution
 Decentralized
legislation
power and Ethnic rights
Obama Speech at Yangon
University
Historical Background
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High literacy rate with 89.9 % of adults and
94.5 % of youth considered literate
(UNESCO 2007)
Asian Example
Used for political objective - foster resistance
to encroachments of Western and Asian
imperialism
88 student-led demonstration
Military regime crashed down Education
Slow and steady decay
Myanmar Education System
Education School Level
Primary
Elementary
Grade
Age
Years
1-5
6-11
5
6-9
12-16
4
10-12
17-18
2
Education
Middle
Intermediate School
Secondary Secondary Education
Tertiary
Tertiary- Higher
Education
2
Over 170 Universities
I.
Main

II.
States and Regions
Health
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III.
IV.
Medical
Dental
Public Health
Traditional
Veterinary Science
Technology

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Engineering
Aerospace Engineering
Computer Science
Defend Services
Academy



V.
Religion


VI.
Defence
Technology
Nursing and Paramedical
Theological Colleges
Buddhism
Other Specialisations
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Economics
Forest
Agriculture
Education College
Foreign language
Ministry of Education
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Department of Higher Education
Department of Basic Education
Department of Myanmar Language
Commission
Department of Myanmar Board of
Examinations
Myanmar Educational Research Bureau
(MERB)
Key Issues in Education Sector


Highly central control and complex management under
Different Ministries
Lack of coordination – across the sectors
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among Universities
between Basic and Higher
Outdated policy and resources
Lack of teaching and learning resources – library
Lack of an adequate budget – increase to 4 % though
limited reach and access
Gender disparity
Capacity and other technical issues – competency
Exams- based, Class room-based
Activities Highlights

Policy advocacy work
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Child Centred Education

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Unicef, JICA, Pyoe Pin, etc
Networking and Clusters
English Language and other capacity
Building


Parliament
Civil Society actors
Donors efforts
Research
British Council, Unicef, etc.
Ethnic language policy work
Media
Comprehensive Education Sector
Review
Opportunities


Increased budget from 1% to 4 %
Parliament

Institutions - rejected Higher Education Bill in Aug 2012
 Individuals - Aung San Suu Kyi and most MPs
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National priority interest –EFA Goal
Coordination mechanism –Government, Donors, Civil
Society- Parliament
Research interests

Myanmar Research Development Institute (MRDI
 Other sectorial research networks
 U Myint (President Economics Policy Advisor)

Comprehensive Education Sector Review
‘It is in education in particular that I hope the British
can play a major role. We need short-term results,
so that our people may see that democratisation has
a tangible, positive impact on their lives’
‘Vocational training and creation of employment
opportunities to help address Burma ’s chronic
youth unemployment are particularly important’
Access and freedom
‘Such a system was not suitable for a democratic
country and called for independence to be
enshrined in Burma’s higher education institutes…
‘University is a place where students should have
freedom to create their dreams and speak out
about what they believe …too many young people
did not get the chance to study’
Aung San Suu Kyu
Draft New Bill
“The new draft that we are going to write will be
similar to the education system in 1920, which
was used at Rangoon University. We may have
a good education system after review and
development from the current draft,”
Ba Shein
Member of Parliamnet
Inclusive policy reform
‘Teachers and education experts must be
involved in the drafting process’
Thein Nyunt,
Member of Parliament
Independent Education System
‘Education system there must be autonomy
at universities with the right for each to make
their own decisions. The government should
only establish one national policy without
controlling individual universities’
Kyaw Zaw Naing.

Creative Thinking

‘The current system is failing because so
many schools have been shut down…
students must not just be forced to read but
instead encouraged to develop cognitive and
creative skills’
Myint Myint Khin,
former professor
Rangoon Medical School
Comprehensive Education Sector
Review (CESR)


Task

Promotes a ‘learning society capable of facing the
challenges of the Knowledge Age’

Help build ‘a modern developed nation through
education’
Objectives

Develop a knowledge-base and identify areas for
reform;

Support evidence-based policies, legislation and
education sector improvements

Develop costed education sector plans
Phases of the CESR
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Phase 1: Rapid Assessment: (6 months)
 Identify urgent priorities and reform issues
 Knowledge gaps for second stage.
 By early 2013
Phase 2: In-depth Analysis: (1 year)
 In-depth sector analysis -investigations and capacity
building
 By December 2013
Phase 3: Development of Education Sector Plan: (6
months)
 Education sector plan (mid 2014).
 Initial two year plan (2014-2016)
 Five year plan (2016-2021)
Assessment Phase 1: Focus
 Basic
Education
 Early childhood
 Primary education
 Secondary education
 Non-formal education
 Teacher education
 Policy, legislation and management -Higher
Education
 Financing
 Coordination mechanisms
 Textbook
Management System of CESR
CESR Steering Committee
Patron: Union Minister for Education
Chair: Deputy Union Minister for Education
CESR Task Force
Chair:
Deputy Union Minister
for Education
Secretary: Director General
Joint Education Sector Working Group
(JESWG)
Chair:
Co Chair:
Director General
UNICEF, AusAID
CESR Office
Chief Technical Advisor
International Coordinator
National Coordinator
Task Managers
Technical Teams
International Consultants
National Consultants
Focal Persons
Development Partner
Coordination Mechanism
Qs & As Please !