• Burmese
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
The Irrawaddy
20 °c
Ashburn
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
No Result
View All Result
The Irrawaddy
No Result
View All Result
Home News Burma

Education Organizations Criticize Govt Education Policy Draft

Soe Sandar Oo by Soe Sandar Oo
January 6, 2014
in Uncategorized
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0 0
A A
Education Organizations Criticize Govt Education Policy Draft

The education system in Myanmar is set for an overhaul. (Photo: Jpaing / The Irrawaddy)

7.5k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

RANGOON — A network of educational organizations has criticized a proposed government overhaul of Burma’s long-neglected education system, saying that a new draft education policy fails to include the network’s recommendations.

Thein Lwin, of the National Network for Education Reform (NNER), said the group put out a statement on Sunday calling on education officials and parliamentarians to engage in discussions with NNER about the planned review of Burma’s education.

“We released a statement today with our view of the national education policy drawn up by government, which lacks transparency, freedom of thought and limits the rights of universities,” he said. “Our main aim is to challenge the government to debate their national education policy and our [proposal].”

RelatedPosts

‘Children Torn in Two’: Witness Describes Myanmar Junta’s School Massacre

‘Children Torn in Two’: Witness Describes Myanmar Junta’s School Massacre

May 15, 2025
762
Quake Fails to Quell Russian Nuclear Romance; Naypyitaw Truth Concealed; and More

Quake Fails to Quell Russian Nuclear Romance; Naypyitaw Truth Concealed; and More

April 26, 2025
1.4k
Dams Promise Leaves Public in Dark; Dictator’s Global Illusions; and More

Dams Promise Leaves Public in Dark; Dictator’s Global Illusions; and More

January 11, 2025
2.4k

NNER was formed in October 2012 and includes the National League for Democracy’s educational block, the 88 Generation Students and the Democratic Society, the Thinking Classroom Foundation, teachers unions, Buddhists monks, ethnic education groups and Christian churches.

The NNER held 25 seminars across country and in June 2013 held a national conference attended by 1,200 participants, after which it sent a report with recommendations for creating an inclusive education system to Parliament and a government committee overseeing the Comprehensive Education Sector Review. NNER met with the Education Ministry three times last year and also discussed education policy reform with Aung San Suu Kyi.

The group said, however, that the Implementation of Practical Upgrade Education Committee had ignored the NNER’s recommendations, while the committee—formed by presidential decree in October—does not include any outside education experts.

“We were not invited to attend the education discussions, but they made the public think that we are participants and approve of their policy,” Thein Lwin said. “Our policy was drawn up with input from the public, but theirs is just propaganda of the government.”

“I would like to suggest that the government be more open and discuss their policy in public,” he said. “Or to take into account our education policy, which has been released for a long time and was discussed many times with parliamentarians and civil society.”

He added that NNER would longer engage in any talks with the government committee unless it agrees to debate new education system policies.

Arka Moe Thu, executive member of the University Lecturers Association, said the government had made little effort to seek opinions of university lecturers about the new education policy, inviting only one lecturer each from three universities to attend a discussion on the draft policy on Dec. 31.

He said the government-proposed policy would also see the Education Ministry set up a council that would control Burma’s universities and limit their independence.

“The government committee draft intends to form a Central Council for Universities, which means they want to centralize and handle all activities of universities. Actually, universities should operate independently,” he said.

The University Teachers Association and Burma Students Union (Ba Ka) on Dec. 24 rejected the proposal to form a Central Council of Universities.

Than Htike Aung, a lecturer from East University of Yangon, leveled further criticism at the draft government policy, saying that section two includes a description of education goals stating that “the students have to be taught to have the right idea based on Myanmar national characteristics.”

This goal raises questions about the policy’s concern for the educational needs of Burma’s ethnic minorities, he said, adding that such a goal could also be used to restrict academic freedom of thought. “Education needs freedom to foster good ideas,” Than Htike Aung said.

Your Thoughts …
Tags: Education
Soe Sandar Oo

Soe Sandar Oo

Similar Picks:

Parents Pull Children From Schools in Yangon as Myanmar Junta Troops Move In
Burma

Parents Pull Children From Schools in Yangon as Myanmar Junta Troops Move In

by The Irrawaddy
November 24, 2023
16.4k

Regime’s decision to station troops at schools in Myanmar’s commercial capital and rumors of forced conscriptions puts city residents on...

Read moreDetails
Myanmar’s Youth Flee—and They Aren’t Looking Back
Commentary

Myanmar’s Youth Flee—and They Aren’t Looking Back

by Aung Zaw
February 23, 2024
8.3k

In Thailand and farther afield, they join the wealthy and the educated who have already put down roots and invested...

Read moreDetails
Flag Saluting, Anthem Singing Now Mandatory at International Schools in Myanmar
Burma

Flag Saluting, Anthem Singing Now Mandatory at International Schools in Myanmar

by Maung Kavi
February 23, 2024
3.6k

Junta boss tells nationalist group that the patriotic mandate is intended to counter subversion by young people, says race and...

Read moreDetails
Junta Watch: New Honors to Flatter Foreign Allies; Playing the Blame Game (Again); and More
Junta Watch

Junta Watch: New Honors to Flatter Foreign Allies; Playing the Blame Game (Again); and More

by The Irrawaddy
March 23, 2024
2.7k

Also this week, the regime orchestrated Rohingya protests, lost the builder of its capital, and praised Putin after not-so-free election. 

Read moreDetails
Conscript-Hungry Myanmar Junta Turns Sights on Students
Burma

Conscript-Hungry Myanmar Junta Turns Sights on Students

by The Irrawaddy
January 10, 2025
2.5k

Parents are alarmed as local administrations demand student lists from private schools and universities, with details such as whether youngsters...

Read moreDetails
Thai Ministry Shuts Down Six Schools for Burmese Students
Asia

Thai Ministry Shuts Down Six Schools for Burmese Students

by Bangkok Post
September 9, 2024
2.5k

The Education Ministry has ordered local authorities to investigate if there are more illegal Burmese-language learning centers after it found...

Read moreDetails
Load More
Next Post
Thousands Welcome Suu Kyi’s Chin State Visit

Thousands Welcome Suu Kyi’s Chin State Visit

Wanted: More Staff at Burma’s Food Safety Regulator

Wanted: More Staff at Burma’s Food Safety Regulator

No Result
View All Result

Recommended

China’s Two-Faced Diplomacy in Myanmar

China’s Two-Faced Diplomacy in Myanmar

2 days ago
2.1k
Myanmar Junta Leader Scores Diplomatic Win With Xi Meeting in Moscow

Myanmar Junta Leader Scores Diplomatic Win With Xi Meeting in Moscow

6 days ago
1.2k

Most Read

  • We Can’t Help You, Myanmar Junta Tells Striking Workers at Adidas Factory

    We Can’t Help You, Myanmar Junta Tells Striking Workers at Adidas Factory

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • 10 Men Killed by Indian Paramilitaries ‘Were Myanmar Resistance Fighters’

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • KNU Seizes Myanmar Junta Base on Thai Border

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Kokang’s New Power Play: Economic Integration With China

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Military’s Proxy Party ‘Living in Fear’ Ahead of Junta’s December Poll

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Newsletter

Get The Irrawaddy’s latest news, analyses and opinion pieces on Myanmar in your inbox.

Subscribe here for daily updates.

Contents

  • News
  • Politics
  • War Against the Junta
  • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
  • Conflicts In Numbers
  • Junta Crony
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Asia
  • World
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Election 2020
  • Elections in History
  • Cartoons
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Commentary
  • Guest Column
  • Analysis
  • Letters
  • In Person
  • Interview
  • Profile
  • Dateline
  • Specials
  • Myanmar Diary
  • Women & Gender
  • Places in History
  • On This Day
  • From the Archive
  • Myanmar & COVID-19
  • Intelligence
  • Myanmar-China Watch
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Fashion & Design
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Photo Essay
  • Donation

About The Irrawaddy

Founded in 1993 by a group of Myanmar journalists living in exile in Thailand, The Irrawaddy is a leading source of reliable news, information, and analysis on Burma/Myanmar and the Southeast Asian region. From its inception, The Irrawaddy has been an independent news media group, unaffiliated with any political party, organization or government. We believe that media must be free and independent and we strive to preserve press freedom.

  • Copyright
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Team
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Burmese

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Business Roundup
  • Books
  • Donation

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.