Education in Burma
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Educational oversight
Minister
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Ministry of Education Dr. Chan Nyein, |
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| National education budget | US$97 million[1] (2001) | |
| Primary language(s) | Burmese, English | |
| National system Established |
1910 |
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| Literacy (2005) • Men • Women |
89.7% 93.7% 86.2% |
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| Enrollment • Primary • Secondary • Post-secondary |
8,092,510[1] 4,948,198[1] 2,589,312[1] 550,000[1] |
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| Attainment • Secondary diploma • Post-secondary diploma |
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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 mission schools are since 1860 (such as La Salle schools) in Burma were nationalized on April 1, 1965 after the order restoration of general Ne Win. However, its monopoly still remains popular.
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[edit] 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 nationalized and education standards began to fall. Through many changes in education systems during the socialist regime, Burma government uses schools as propaganda machines. 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 Affairs officially announced that Burma education was reaching an international standard and the government had fully entitled to 156 universities and colleges in Myanmar. Today, Myanmar lags far behind in terms of educational standards. Once at its zenith in the region, Myanmar today has well-trained qualified teachers[1], though very little resources, and aging materials. Many universities have been built and scattered throughout cities throughout cities to prevent students participation in potential unrest.
Besides these actions, students attending these universities are not allowed to speak freely, to write freely or to publish freely.
| 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. | ||
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Lower 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.
[edit] Upper secondary education
[edit] Tertiary education
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f "Table 1: Budget for Education". South-East Asian Ministers of Education Organization. http://www.seameo.org/images/stories/SEAMEO_General/SEAMEO_Statistics/Education_Histogram/ED_Histogram.htm. Retrieved on 2009-1-18.
[edit] External links
- Ministry of Education (MOE)
- ASEAN University Network
- Burma’s Rangoon University 1957, History lecture by Professor Kyaw Thet’s You Tube video[2]Teaching media was English even for that History, arts subject.
- UNESCO Education in Burma. UNESCO. Retrieved 13 February 2006.
