20171211 EducationinMyanmarWikipedia

EducationinMyanmar
TheeducationalsystemofMyanmar(alsoknownasBurma)isoperated
EducationinMyanmar
by the government Ministry of Education. Universities and professional
institutes from upper Burma and lower Burma are run by two separate MinistryofEducation
entities, the Departments of Higher Education (Lower Burma and Upper UnionMinister DrMyoThein
Burma),whoseofficeheadquartersareinYangonandMandalayrespectively. Gyi
TheeducationsystemisbasedontheUnitedKingdom'ssystem,duetonearly Nationaleducationbudget
acenturyofBritishandChristianpresencesinBurma."ThefirstGovernment (201415)
highschoolwasfoundedbytheBritishcolonialadministrationin1874.Two
Budget ~US$1152
years later, this Government High School was upgraded and became
million[1]
University College, Rangoon."[1] (https://web.archive.org/web/20110608032
539/http://www.anu.edu.au/unesco/Tin.pdf) Nearly all schools are Generaldetails
governmentoperated, but recently, there has been an increase in privately Primary Burmese,
funded schools (which specialise in English). Schooling is compulsory until languages English
the end of elementary school, probably about 9 years old, while the Systemtype National
compulsoryschoolingageis15or16atinternationallevel.
Established 1910
The literacy rate of Burma, according to the 2014 Burma Census stands at Literacy(2014)
89.5% (males: 92.6%, females: 86.9%). [2] The annual budget allocated to
Total 89.5% [2]
education by the government is low only about 1.2% is spent per year on
Male 92.6% [2]
education.Englishistaughtasasecondlanguagefromkindergarten.
Female 86.9% [2]
Mostoftheearlymissionschoolsaresince1860(suchasLaSalleschools)in
Enrollment
Burmawerenationalisedon1April1965aftertheorderrestorationofgeneral
Total 8,092,510[1]
NeWin.
Primary 4,948,198[1]
Secondary 2,589,312[1]
Postsecondary 550,000[1]
Contents
1 History
2 Uniform
3 Preschoolandkindergarten
4 Primaryeducation
5 Secondaryeducation
6 Tertiaryeducation
7 Seealso
8 References
9 Externallinks

History
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During British colonial rule, educational access for women improved tremendously. In the precolonial era, male
education was emphasised in the traditional Buddhist monastic education system. The number of female students
enrolledinschoolrose61%(by45,000students)from19111921,andanother82%(100,000students)from1921to1931
with expansion of the colonial and private education system, primarily in the form of allgirls schools. [3] This was
mirroredbyanincreaseinfemaleemployment.From1921to1931,therewasa33%increaseinemploymentofwomenin
publicadministration,law,medicine(96%increase),education(64%increase),andjournalismsectors. [3]

When Burma gained independence in 1948, the government sought to create a literate and educated population, and
BurmawasbelievedtobeonitswaytobecomethefirstAsianTigerintheregion.However,1962coupd'etatisolatedand
impoverishedBurma.Allschoolswerenationalisedandeducationalstandardsbegantofall.BurmesereplacedEnglishas
themediumofinstructionatBurmeseuniversitiesin1965,withthepassingoftheNewUniversityEducationLawayear
earlier. [4]ThisledtoarapiddeclineinEnglishproficiencyamongtheBurmese. [4]Englishwasreintroducedasamedium
ofinstructionin1982. [4]In1977,the2yearregionalcollegesystemwasintroducedbytheBurmesegovernment,asaway
to disperse college students until they were about to graduate (the third and fourth years were spent at a traditional
university),asystemthatwasendedin1981. [4]

Duetostudents'protestof8888Uprising,alluniversitieswereclosedaroundBurmafor2years.Sincethe1990s,new
structureofeducationsystemwasweakasgovernmentfacedcrisistouniversities'clashandsetupa6thmonthstermfor
anacademicyear.TheSPDCgovernmentarrangedirregularcommencementdatesforuniversitiesandcolleges,however,
studentswerestillinqueandclash/Anotherseriesofstudents'strikein1996and1998resultedinanother3yearsof
closure.

Afterthereopeningofuniversitiesandcollegesin1999,thegovernmentscattereduniversitiesindifferentregions.The
relocationofcertainuniversitiesweremadeunderrelativeministries.Newsystemhadbeenmadethattheuniversityterm
wasshortenedbyoneyear,providingabachelor'sdegreeforjustthreeyearcourse.However,improvementwererapidly
madedespitetheearlydisturbances.In2005,theMinistryofForeignAffairsofficiallyannouncedthatBurmaeducation
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. Learnallbyrote education system, adversely
trainedteachers,practiseofbribery,aswellasusageofagedresourceshavebeenthetrademarksofprimaryandsecondary
schoolsofMyanmar.Plus,studentsaremadetotakecopioustuitionssincelearningatschoolisnotconsideredenough.
Miserably indeed, students learn everything, from answers of English grammar questions to essays, by heart. All
questionsaskedintestsareseen.Exceptionally,sometestsofgrade5,grade9,grade11areunseenunlessthetestpapers
are secreted. Many universities have been built and scattered throughout cities to prevent students participation in
potentialunrest.

Besidestheseactions,studentsattendingtheseuniversitiesarenotallowedtospeakfreely,towritefreelyortopublish
freely.

Uniform
SchooluniformsaremandatorythroughoutpublicschoolsinBurma,fromkindergartenuntilthe10thstandard. [5]From
kindergarten to the 4th standard, the compulsory boy uniform is a white shirt and green pants, which can be short or
long. Shoes and Burmese sandals may be worn. The girl uniform is similar, consisting of a white blouse and a skirt or
pants.From5thstandarduntilmatriculation,traditionalBurmeseattireisconsideredappropriateschooluniform.The

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boyuniformisawhiteshirt(withaMandarincollaroruncollared)andagreensarongcalledapaso,alongwithBurmese
sandals. For girls, a traditional Burmese blouse (either the yinzi, with a front opening, or the yin hpon, with a side
opening)andagreensarongcalledahtameinareworn,alongwithBurmesesandals.

Preschoolandkindergarten Level/Standard Typicalage

Preschoolsareopenedforchildrenover2yearsofageandtheyareinextensivecare Preschool
orpublicsystems.Kindergartenstartsfromtheageof5(notyoungerthan4Years PreKindergarten 45
and 8 months at the time of school's commencement date). Primary, Lower Elementaryschool
Secondary and Upper Secondary Schools in Burma are under the Department of
Kindergarten 56
BasicEducation.Theofficialcommencementdateforthoseschoolsis1June.
Standard1 67

Primaryeducation Standard2 78
Standard3 89
Primaryeducationisofficiallycompulsory.Itlastsfiveyears,andtocontinueonto
Standard4 910
secondary school, students must pass a comprehensive examination of basic
subjects. Middleschool
Standard5 1011

Secondaryeducation Standard6 1112

Secondary schools are usually combined, containing both middle and high Standard7 1213

schools.Secondary Middle schools offer classes from Grade 6 to grade 9 whereas Standard8 1314
Secondary High school offers classes up to Grade 11. Children of rich and well Highschool
known families are often given easier access to the more prestigious secondary
Standard9 1415
schools.Thereismuchcorruptionineducationalequality.Butinbothprimaryand
Standard10 1516
secondaryschools,thesystemis"nofailureeducationsystem".Onlyattheendof
thehighschoolsorattheentranceofthecollege/university,thesystemischanged. Postsecondaryeducation
University Agesvary
Highschoolsstudentschooseoneof2tracksuponenteringhighschool:scienceor
arts.AllhighschoolstudentstakeMyanmar,English,andmathematics.However, B.Sc./B.A. 1620
M.B.B.S. 1624
Sciencespecialised students also take 3 additional subjects: chemistry, physics Master's 2022
and biology as part of their coursework, while artsspecialised students take Ph.D. 22+
geography,historyandeconomics.Theseroutesalsodeterminewhatmatriculation
subjectexamstheyareadministeredandwhattertiaryschoolstheycanapplyto. Vocationaleducation Agesvary
Adulteducation
At the end of Standard 10(Grade 11), students take the University Entrance
Examination, commonly referred to as the matriculation exam in English,
administered by the Board of Examinations annually in midMarch. [6] High marks in a subject garner a distinction
known as gondu ( ). Students who achieve distinctions in five or more subjects (or a combined total of
approximately500/600)aregenerallyguaranteedplacementinoneofMyanmar'smedicaluniversities,themostselective
ofuniversities.TestscoreresultsarereleasedattestingsitesthroughoutthecountryinJune. [7]Since2007,MonStatehas
hadthehighestmatriculationpassratesinthecountry. [8]

Students who attend international Englishlanguage schools or other private schools are not eligible to sit for the
matriculationexam,noraretheyallowedtoenrollinBurmeseuniversities. [9]Instead,theytypicallystudyoverseas,at
destinations such as Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, United Kingdom and the United States. In 2010, 695 Burmese
internationalstudentsstudiedintheUnitedStates,particularlyinprivateliberalartscolleges. [10]

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Myanmarsecondaryeducationhasnumerousproblems.Itcompletelyemphasizesuponrotelearningandmemorization
andregurgitationinhibitingstudents'creativethinkingandcriticalthinkingskills.Teachersthemselveslearnunderthe
authoritativesystemssotheyareusuallyresistivetocurrentchangesinteachingmethods. [11]

Tertiaryeducation

Seealso
MyanmarNationalEducationLaw2014

References
1."Militaryspendingstilldwarfseducationandhealth"(http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/nationalnews/10000military
spendingstilldwarfseducationandhealth.html).Retrieved18November2014.
2.TheUnionReport:CensusReportVolume2.The2014MyanmarPopulationandHousingCensus.NayPyiTaw:
MinistryofImmigrationandPopulation.2015.p.12.
3.Ikeya,Chie(2008)."TheModernBurmeseWomanandthePoliticsofFashioninColonialBurma"(http://journals.cambr
idge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=2541936).TheJournalofAsianStudies.CambridgeUniversity
Press.67:12771308.doi:10.1017/S0021911808001782(https://doi.org/10.1017%2FS0021911808001782).
4.Thein,Myat(2004).EconomicdevelopmentofMyanmar.InstituteofSoutheastAsianStudies.pp.115118.ISBN978
9812302113.
5.http://www.myanmar.gov.mm/myanmartimes/no267/MyanmarTimes14267/t008.htm
6."Announcementforsubmittingmatriculationexamapplications"(http://myanmargeneva.org/NLM2007/eng/9Sep/n07091
4.pdf)(PDF).TheNewLightofMyanmar.14September2007.Retrieved3September2010.
7.MinZaw(17March2008)."Parentsfeelthestressofmatriculation"(http://www.mmtimes.com/no410/n003.htm).
MyanmarTimes.Retrieved3September2010.
8."OutstandingstudentsgivenseatsofhonourinMonState"(http://www.myanmar.com/newspaper/nlm/Aug02_06.html).
NewLightofMyanmar.2August2011.Retrieved4March2012.
9."BurmaConsidersPrivateEducation"(http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=17243&page=2).TheIrrawaddy.18
November2009.Retrieved3September2010.
10.Quizon,Derek(25July2011)."LiberalartscollegesattractBurmesestudents"(https://www.usatoday.com/news/educa
tion/20110725burmausliberalartscolleges_n.htm).USAToday.Retrieved12August2011.
11.Downing,Jared."Learningtothink"(http://frontiermyanmar.net/en/features/learningtothink).Retrieved20160813.

Externallinks
MyanmarSchoolDirectory(https://www.sataban.com/myanmarschool/)
MinistryofEducation(MOE)(http://www.myanmareducation.edu.mm/)
ASEANUniversityNetwork(http://www.aun.chula.ac.th/)
BurmasRangoonUniversity1957,HistorylecturebyProfessorKyawThetsYouTubevideo[2](https://www.youtube.
com/watch?v=j0epnuboiO0)TeachingmediawasEnglishevenforthatHistory,artssubject.
UNESCOEducationinBurma(http://www.uis.unesco.org/profiles/EN/EDU/countryProfile_en.aspx?code=1040).
UNESCO.Retrieved13February2006.

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