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Current
Educational Priorities and Concerns
The
main thrust of the education sector is not
only quantitative expansion, but qualitative
improvement as well. Quantitative expansion
is undertaken by the Ministry of Education
by means of measures such as the School Enrolment
Day, the UNICEF–supported “All Children in School” Project and the
UNDP-funded Human Development Initiative.
Qualitative improvement measures to be taken have been identified at two national
seminars on basic education and two national seminars on higher education held
in 1998, 1999 and 2000. Emphasis has been placed on improving the conditions
of basic education schools in the rural areas. In the higher education sub-sector,
a more equitable distribution of tertiary education institutions has to be ensured
with the establishment of new universities, degree colleges and colleges throughout
the Union. The first nation-wide seminar on basic education, Education Promotion
Programme–Phase I, was held in Yangon in May 1998. The major outcome of
the seminar was the identification and formulation of ten programmes for promoting
quality education at the basic education level. These programmes are:
- Reforming
the curriculum of primary education.
- Changes
in the procedures for assessing academic
achievement.
- Changes
in the system of matriculation and university
entrance examination.
- Effective
utilization of new technologies for teaching
and learning activities.
- Introduction
of pre-school education.
- Improving
the quality of teacher education and training
courses, and re-introducing pre-service courses
at the newly upgraded Colleges of Education.
- Wider
provision of in-service teacher training
programmes for teachers without certification.
- Introduction
of school families scheme.
- Expansion
of Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) and
establishment of School Boards of Trustees.
- Implementing
the Comprehensive Personal Records (CPRs)
of students in state schools.
The
second nation-wide seminar on basic education,
Education Promotion Programme–Phase II,
was convened in May 1999 in Yangon and Mandalay
to build on the encouraging results of Phase
I. A further nine programmes were identified
for implementation starting from the school
year 1999/2000:
- Establishment
of Myanmar Education Development Associations
(MEDA) at national, state, division and township
levels.
- Improving
access to pre-service teacher training with
the commencement of the Post-graduate Diploma
in Teaching (PGDT) course.
- Awarding
prizes to outstanding students.
- Increasing
the primary school enrolment rate.
- Provision
of basic education for Myanmar children residing
abroad.
- Introducing
special regulations and benefits for teachers
serving in remote and border areas.
- Inculcating
Union spirit among young people.
- Utilization
of multimedia technology in classrooms.
- Implementation
of the school calendar.
The
seminars helped in defining the objectives
for the basic education and the higher education
sub-sectors. Under the guidance of the Government,
the Special Four-Year Plan for Education—to
be implemented during 2000-03—was drawn
by the Ministry of Education with the vision
to create an education system in line with
international standards and that can generate
a learning society capable of facing the challenges
on the Knowledge Age.
The
current objectives for the education sector
are:
- To
develop an education system which is in line
with the political and socio-economic conditions
of the country.
- To
effectively promote enrolment of school-age
children in schools with particular emphasis
on successful completion of primary education.
- To
develop an education system which trains
and encourages the students to cherish Myanmar
culture, patriotism and traditional moral
values.
- To
provide equal access to quality education
for the border and rural population.
- To
significantly reduce educational wastage
at all levels in the basic education sector.
- To
plan for the further expansion of technical
and vocational education and training.
- To
promote the active participation of the private
sector and non-governmental organizations
in educational activities, within the framework
laid down by the Government for the development
of education.
- To
strengthen the capacity and capability of
teacher training institutions with a view
to improving the quality of teaching.
- To
further develop non-formal education.
- To
update and upgrade the existing curricula
in accordance with the needs of the industrial
sector and public services.
- To
expand and strengthen educational research
and development activities.
Myanmar
is also committed to Education For All (EFA),
and a National Programme of Action has been
prepared to strive towards achieving EFA goals
by the year 2000. In this context, the enrolment
rate has increased to 91% in 1999, and the
completion rate for the primary education cycle
increased to over 50% in the same year. |
