Myanmar’s educational system is considered to be the least effective in Southeast Asia. And, after 50 years of military rule, it’s not surprising. Although the exact numbers aren’t known, it is believed that nearly 30% of students never even start primary school, while 60% of students drop out of school before the fifth grade. Ethnic minority students are even less likely to receive an education. As for higher education – it became viewed as a threat to political stability after the student-led protests in 1988, and nearly all of Myanmar’s universities were shut down.
While the new “civilian” government in Myanmar is far from perfect, this April’s election will likely see an array of non-military leaders voted in, including Nobel Peace prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. As Myanmar’s government becomes more legitimate, foreign countries are removing trade sanctions. This allows necessary economic reconstruction, and has been an influence on the government reducing its defense budget in order to increase the education budget. With economic reform comes the potential for foreign investors.
Sadly, Myanmar is home to a lost generation, the generation of people who didn’t have access to higher education and cannot offer the necessary skilled labor to help the economy to blossom. There is a need to help rebuild this missing human capital. The European Union has pledged aid to improve health and education in Myanmar, but more support from other countries will be necessary to see through important educational reforms.
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