powered by: Yangon City Development Committee 9/8/2008

Introduction of Myanma Education     Throughout the long history of Myanmar , commencing from the Era of Sri Khestra , when Mahayana Buddhism and Hinayana Buddhism flourished and up to the middle period of Konbaung dynasty the monks were the person who have shouldered the tasks of the national education. At that times, there were monks ( Aranyawathi) who devoted and concentrated their efforts for the salvation from Sansara in accordance with the teachings of the Buddha and some monks who were involved in secular affairs ( Gamawathi ).
      U Kaung, the late Commissioner of Education and who was and expert in Myanmar education remarked thus Monastic -Education is an education which is suitable for building up the moral and to establish the basic for Myanmar culture. Anyhow, in the Myanmar society as the secular and non secular are closely related and linked , so Monastic education should be called as the National education. Monastic education is successful to nurture good moral character and literature. But, under the colonial rule the essence of the National education has vanished
In the old days, by tradition, every Buddhist youth should spend a period in a kyaung learning not only the laws and scriptures but also reading and writing in Myanmar and arithmetic. According to the data collected during the year 1869-70, in lower Myanmar there were 3438 monasteries and 340 home- schools . The number of students attending at the monasteries were 43773 and those attending at the home-schools were 5269. This was the salient point that how widespread the monastic education was in those days.
      At present, monastic education which had been the main stay of education on 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.

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Literacy

      Even in colonial period, in 1931 roughly half the male population of Myanmar was literate and about 14% of the female population. Due to the literacy campaign implemented  during 1964 to 1982, illiterate percentage was reduced to 23.77 in 1981.
Myanmar won the UNESCO'S "Mohamed Reza Pahlevi prize" for its outstanding work in the literacy campaign in 1973. Moreover , Myanmar was conferred on Noma Prize from Japan in 1983 for its mass literacy programme.

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Myanmar Naing-Ngan Education Committee

      This Committee has been established in order to lay the foundations of an education system which is, equitable with the economic and political aspirations of the nation.

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Basic Education

      The administration and management of basic education is under taken by three Departments in the Ministry of Education. The departments are responsible for matters concerning primary education, secondary education (middle school and high school), the inspection and supervision of school, educational planning and project management and student affairs. he 19 educational colleges are under the administration of the Department of Education Planning and Planning but academically 5 are affiliated to the two Institutes of Education which are under the administration of the Departments of Higher education.

1999-2000
Primary	Schools	37,627
	Teachers	153,663
	School Students	4,838,693
Middle	Schools	3,695
	Teachers	55,982
	School Students	1,709,986
High	Schools	1,572
	Teachers	15,758
	School Students	638,605

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Higher Education

      At present, there are 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 co-ordination of higher education institutions under the Ministry of Education. Academic and administrative policy matters relating to higher education are managed by two councils chaired by the Minister of Education , these are the Universities Central Council and the Council of University Academic Bodies: The former 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 works.

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Tertiary Education Institutions

      There are 58 Tertiary Education under the Ministry of Education, they are as follows;--

Institutes of Economics	2
Institutes of Education	2
Arts and Science Universities	16
Arts and Science Degree Colleges (4 years)	9
Arts and Science Colleges (2 years)	10
Education Colleges	19
Total	58

      There are 47 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 Forestry is responsible for the Institute of Forestry. The University of the Development of the National Races is administered by the Public Services Selection and Training Board and the Degree Colleges of Nationalities Youth Resource Development is administered by the Ministry of Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs. Commencing from 1994, new Cooperative Colleges and Regional Colleges were opened by the Ministry of Cooperatives.
The Ministry of Defence established the Defence Services Academy in 1954. Moreover, in 1992, the Defence Services Institute of Medicine and in 1993 Defence Services Institute of Engineering were established.

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Education for All

      In accordance with the Declaration of the world conference on "Education for all" held in Thailand in 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 aims at providing basic education to all school going age children and hopes that 80% of these children would complete primary level education , for man formal education, the Education Department aims at reducing the adult illiteracy rate from 22% to 11%.
      Under the guidance of the Myanmar Naing Ngan Education committee "Education for All" project was commenced in 1996-97 in 30 townships and extended to 80 townships in 1997-98. In 1998-99 the project is implemented in 104 townships and there is a plan to implement to all townships in1999-2000.

Cooperation with UN Agencies

      Basic Education Department in cooperation with the UNDP, UNESCO implemented "Strengthening and Upgrading of Teachers Training Colleges and Teacher Training Schools" projects. Moreover, Education Sector Study (ESS) Project was also implemented.
By coordinating with UNICEF , since 1991 "Continuous Assessment and Progression System(CAPS) Project" and starting from 1994 "All Children in School ( ACIS )Project" have been implemented. CAPS project have been implemented in 277 townships in 11967 primary schools in the year 1998-99, providing access to school-going age children. ACIS Project has been implemented in 70 townships which consist of 9265 primary schools.
      In accordance with the UNDP's "Human Development Initiative-HDI Project", the Improved Access to Primary Education in Rural Area 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 are implemented in collaboration with the UN agencies to achieve the national EFA goals.

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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 computer skill of the students. The multi-media class rooms are being installed at the basic education high schools in Yangon.

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University of Distance Education

      Distance Education began in the academic year 1973-74. It commenced at the University of Education for Diploma in Education, In 1981-82 academic year B.E.D.courses were commenced by correspondence System.
      University Correspondence Courses for Arts, Science, Economics and Law subjects were commenced at Yangon University.
      At Mandalay University, the courses started in 1978-79 academic year and extended to the Universities and Degree Colleges in 1981-82 .Lectures were broadcasted by the Myanmar Athan (MTRD) in the academic year 1991-92 there are 88225 students in the Distance Education.
Distance Education University was established on July, 1992 , throughout the whole country there are 23 Departments, Loikaw Department in Kayah State was opened in 1995 and Kyaingtone Department was opened in Eastern Shan State .

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Department of Myanmar Language Commission

      From the Rajakumar stone inscription which bear the date 475 Myanmar Era ( 113 A.D. ),it can be inferred that Myanmar language had developed into the written form at least more than eight centuries ago. However, although effort had been made by the monarch to establish an orthography of the language and by individuals on morphology, a standard orthography and a monolingual dictionary of the language were still lacking after a quarter of a century had passed since gaining independence from the British in 1948.
      To correct this discrepancy and to establish the Myanmar language which is in fact the medium of the communication for the vast majority of the people either as their mother tongue or the most practical second language in this multi-ethnic society on a sound basis, the Revolutionary Council laid the corner stone for the future formation of the Myanmar Language Commission by forming the Commission for Myanmar Literature Translation in 1963.
      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 present form in 1983.

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E-Education

      In order to develop educational opportunities, Electronic Data Broadcasting System was established on the first of January 2001. In addition Centers on IT Learning, Electronic Research, Computer Training, Multi-media Resource and Language Labs throughout the country were opened. There are a total of 203 Electronic Learning Centers and very soon servers will be ready for students to download from the learning centers, any information, any time at their convenience.

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The University of Foreign Languages

      Institute of Foreign Languages commenced in January, 1964, it was renamed and upgraded to the University of Foreign Languages in 1996.Up to 1989 there were 7 language departments including Myanmar language and both full-time and part-time courses were offered.
      In 1964, courses for French, German, Japan and Russian languages were taught. In1965 Chinese Speaking classes were opened and in 1969 English Language was also taught. Myanmar language courses for foreigners were also commenced in 1974. During the reign of State Peace and Development Council Thai language speaking classes and Korean language diploma classes were opened. In the academic year of 1997-98 there are about 1300 Full-time and Part-time students as well as about 520 short-term courses students.

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Myanmar Education Research Bureau ( MERB )

       Myanmar Education Research Bureau first came into existence under the name of Burma Education Research Bureau (BERB )in 1966. By the enactment of Burma Educational Research Law in 1973 it gained its legal status. It is headed by a full time Chairman and its mandate is to promote and support research activities in education.
      Educational History of Myanmar Treatise in five chapters ,i.e. 1886-1947, 1962-1970, 1971-1980, 1980-up to present time are being compiled by the Research Bureau and draft chapters for the first three parts are finished
Myanmar Education Research Bureau has the administrative capability and flexibility and resources necessary for research execution and collaboration with other bodies within and departments outside the Ministry.

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