| Education Category Listing |
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| Introduction of Myanma Education |
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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.
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.
| 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.
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 |
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.
| 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 |
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Total
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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.
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.
| 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.
| 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 .
| 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.
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.
| 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.
| 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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