Education in Myanmar

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Education in Myanmar
Ministry of Education, Dept of Higher Education
MinisterDr. Chan Nyein,
National education budget
Budget1.2% of GDP [http://] (2005), K32 Billions kyats[1](2003)
General details
Primary languagesMyanmar, English
System typeNational
Established1910
Literacy (2005)
Total89.7
Male93.7
Female86.2
Enrollment
Total8,092,510 [2]
Primary4,948,198
Secondary2,589,312
Post secondary550,000
Attainment
Secondary diploma?
Post-secondary diploma?

The educational system of Burma is operated by the government Ministry of Education. Universities and professional institutes from upper Burma and lower Burma are run by two separate entities, the Departments of Higher Education (Lower Burma and Upper Burma), whose office headquarters are based in Yangon and Mandalay respectively. The education system is based on the United Kingdom's system, due to nearly a century of British and Christian presences in Burma. Nearly all schools are government-operated, but recently, there has been an increase in privately funded schools (which specialise in English). Schooling is compulsory until the end of elementary school, probably about 9 years old, while the compulsory schooling age is 15 or 16 at international level.

The literacy rate of Burma, according the UNESCO Institute of Statistics (2005) stands at 89.7% (males: 93.7%, females: 86.2%), although there is dispute over the accuracy of the provided literacy rates. The annual budget allocated to education by the government is low; only about 1.2% is spent per year on education. English is taught as a second language from Kindergarten.

Most of the early foreign high schools since 1860 (such as La Salle schools) in Burma were nationalised on April 1, 1965 after the order restoration of general Ne Win. However, its monopoly still remains popular.

History

When Burma gained independence in 1948, the government sought to create a literate and educated population, and Burma was believed to be on its way to become the first Asian Tiger in the region. However, military dictatorship took hold in 1962 and Burma became an isolated and impoverished nation. All schools were nationalised and education standards began to fall. Through many changes in education systems during the socialist regime, Burma government uses schools as propagandist machine. Due to students' protest of 8888 Uprising, all universities were closed around Burma for 2 years. Since 1990s, new structure of education system was weak as government faced crisis to universities' clash and set up a 6th months term for an academic year. The SPDC government arranged irregular commencement dates for universities and colleges, however, students were still in que and clash. Another series of students' strike in 1996 and 1998 resulted in another 3 years of closure. After the re-opening of universities and colleges in 1999, the government scattered universities in different regions. The relocation of certain universities were made under relative ministries. New system had been made that the university term was shortened by one year, providing a bachelor degree for just three year course. However, improvement were rapidly made despite the early disturbances. In 2005, the Ministry of Foreign affiars officially announced that Burma education was reaching an international standard and the government had fully entitled to 156 universities and colleges in Burma. Today, Burma lags far behind in terms of educational standards. Once at its zenith in the region, Burma today has well-trained qualified teachers[3], though very little resources, and aging materials. Many universities have been built & scattered throughout cities throughout cities to prevent students from potential unrest.

Besides these actions, students attending these universities are not allowed to speak freely, to write freely, to publish freely. To make our country progress, to make our people good and clever citizens, the government sometime during the past promised to give us democracy. But they are not men of action. They are only cowards and merely liars. So the education system they has established produces mostly liars and cheaters. The education system here is very mean and low.

Burma Education System
Ph.D. Years 6-9
Master's or M.B.B.S. Years 5-6
University degree-oriented Years 3-4
regional college Years 1-2
Upper secondary Standards 9-10
Lower secondary Standards 6-8
Primary Standards 1-5
Kindergarten K1-K3
Note: Engineering takes 6 year study and Distance Learning degrees last five years in length, while Medicine is a six and half year long study, with a separate degree.

Preschool and Kindergarten

Preschools are opened for children over 2 years of age and they are in extensive care or public systems. Kindergarten starts from the age of 5 (not younger than 4 Years and 8 months at the time of schools commencement date). Primary, Lower Secondary and Upper Secondary Schools in Burma are under the Department of Basic Education. The official commencement date for those schools is 1st of June.

Primary education

Primary education is officially compulsory, although many children do not attend. It lasts five years, and to continue onto secondary school, students must pass a comprehensive examination of basic subjects.

Secondary education

Secondary education is divided into Middle Schools (standards 6 - 8), and upon passing the Basic Education Standard VIII Examination, students continue onto High Schools, which cover standards 9 -10. At the end of standard 10, students must pass the Basic Education Standard X Examination (matriculation exam.) in order to receive their diplomas. Those, who pass six subjects with substantially higher scores, continue their tertiary education at the Institutes of Medicine in Yangon or Mandalay or Magway. Students who do pass the matriculation examination receive either Diploma A or Diploma B. Those with Diploma A are allowed to continue their educations at university.

Secondary schools are usually combined, containing both middle and high schools. Children of military personnel and those with military connections are often given easier access to the more prestigious secondary schools. There is much corruption in educational equality. But in both primary and secondary schools, the system is "no-failure education system". Only at the end of the high schools or at the entrance of the college/university, the system is changed.

Tertiary education

Main article: High schools in Burma

Notable High Schools

Public

Private

List of universities in Burma

There are 101 universities, 12 institutes, 9 degree colleges and 24 colleges in Myanmar, the total 146 higher education.

There are one sport academy, 10 Technical Training School, 23 nursing training school and 20 midwifery school.

The following list is of higher education institutes in Burma:

'Tekkatho'

'Colleges and Education Institutions'

Instituted of Higher Education in Myanmar

Kachin State

Kayah State

Kayin State

Chin State

Sagaing Division

Taninthayi Division

Bago Division

Magway Division

Mandalay Division

Mon State

Shan State

Yangon Division

Rakhine State

Ayeyawady Division

References

External links

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