History of Burmese education

The history of Burmese education is very interesting. In the year of 1948, when Burma achieved independence, the government attempted to increase the number of educated and literate population in Burma. Burma was very much believed to be on its way. The kingdom becomes the first Asian Tiger in the region.

In the year of 1962 military dictatorship took hold in Burma and the place became an impoverished and isolated nation. Most of the schools were nationalized. Eventually education standards start falling.

During the socialist regime in Burma, many changes happened in education systems. And because of this continuous changes Burma government uses different schools as propaganda machines.

In Burma different universities were closed for about 2 years because of the students’ protest of 8888 Uprising. Since 1990s, as because the new education system was weak it faced crisis to universities’ clash. They eventually set up a six months term for an academic year.

Irregular starting dates for the sessions for different colleges and universities were set by the SPDC government. In 1996 and 1998 another series of students’ strike had taken place that led to another three years of closure.

In 1999, again all colleges and universities were re-opened. Some relative ministries relocated some of the universities. In some new system of education, the university term was shortened by one year. The bachelor degree was for three year. In spite of the early disturbances the education system improved rapidly. The year 2005 was very important for Burmese as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs formally announced that education in Burma was reaching an international standard. The Government had entitled to 156 universities and also colleges in Myanmar.

In present day Myanmar is not up to the mark regarding educational standards. The place has well-trained qualified teachers but the resources are very little. Many universities are scattered here and there in the whole city. But unfortunately the students attending these universities cannot write freely, speak freely, or publish freely.