This document summarizes the current state of education in Myanmar and its future direction. It notes that the education sector is fragmented with an overemphasis on rote learning and lack of skills. Reforms have included a comprehensive education sector review and drafting a national education law. The vision for higher education is to generate a learning society and knowledge-based economy. Challenges include improving pedagogy, teacher quality, and linking education to job markets. The future of education is focused on increasing accessibility, empowering rural areas, international engagement, and lifelong learning to promote sustainable development. Urgent needs include strengthening institutions, curriculum reform, and prioritizing equity and diversity in education.

1. Education and
Human Resource Development
in Myanmar: at a crossroad
Tin Htut, Ph. D
Rector
Yezin Agricultural University
April 28, 2014
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2. OUTLINE
• Overview of Education Sector in Myanmar
• Education for Human Resource Development
• Present Status of Education Sector in
Myanmar
• Future educational perspective for Myanmar
• Key messages and urgent needs
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3. Overview of Education Sector in Myanmar
- Fragmented education sector review
- Overwhelmed rote learning and tuition system both
in basic and higher education
- Lack of motivation, innovation and analytical skill
- Limited resource materials (cheap education)
- Underdeveloped job market
- Lack of inter-linkages among the institutions
- Needing quality control and accreditation
- Inadequate qualified teaching staff
- Poor institutional capacity/ lack of good
institutional practices (GIP)/ lack of good
institutional culture (GIC)
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4. Progress on education sector in Myanmar
• Educational sector development policy and strategies are
thoughtfully formulated
• Participatory planning
• Comprehensive Education Sector Review (CESR) first
phase has been completed
• Comprehensive Education Sector Review (CESR) second
phase is on progress
• National Qualification Framework (NQF) is on progress
• National Education Law has been drafted and under
parliamentary review
leading to more progressive education sector performance
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5. Six core areas
• Development of human resource
• Utilization of technology
• Expansion of research
• Development of a lifelong learning society
• Promotion of the quality of education and
• Preservation of national identity and national
values
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(MoE, 2013)

6. Basic Education Sector Administration Structure (Source: MOE, 2013)
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7. 7
Myanmar National Education Committee
Universities’ Central Council
Council of Universities
Academic Bodies Council
Ministry of Education Other Ministries
169 universities
Department of
higher education
(upper Myanmar)
Department of
higher education
(lower Myanmar)
Department of Myanmar
Language Commission
University 19
Degree Colleges 1
Affiliated Departments 6
Teacher 3897
Student 223957
University 21
Degree Colleges 3
Teacher 5295
Student 206407
Higher Education Sector Administration Structure (Source: MOE, 2013)

8. No. Ministry No. of University
1. Education 68
2. Health 15
3. Science and Technology 62
4. Defense 6
5. Culture 2
6. Environmental Conservation and Forestry 1
7. Agriculture and Irrigation 1
8. Livestock, Fisheries and Rural Development 1
9. Co-operatives 5
10. Religious Affairs 3
11. Border Affairs 3
12. Transport 2
Total 169
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Distribution of Universities and Colleges

9. Vision, goal and mission of
higher education sector in Myanmar
Vision:
Sustainable education system that will generate a learning
society capable of developing knowledge-based economy
Goal:
Ensuring and expanding social safety-net through well
balanced education system
Mission:
To provide public service through research, training and
extension
To create education system for the national human resources
development which enables the professionals to provide
leadership in different institutions and, in addition, supply
science and technology and contribute to national and
regional growth and development
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10. Gap/Challenges of Education for HRD
• Pedagogy/ Curriculum and syllabus
• Teachers’ attitude
• Acquisition of Knowledge
• Education for educators
• Quality educators
• Capital investment for physical and intellectual
• Governance and Management
• Equity and Diversity
• Students’ motivation
• Parental guidance
• Job market
• Improved organizational set up
• Improved institutional practices
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11. Education is the deliberate and systematic
influence exerted by the mature person upon the
immature, through instruction, discipline, and
harmonious developmentof physical, intellectual,
aesthetic, social and spiritual powers of the
human beings.
(Erwin, 1991)
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Education for Human Resource Development

12. Societal value addition
Improved social capital value
Human capital
Human development
Education
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Education based development model

13. Expected core values in the future higher
education for Myanmar
ü Sustainability
ü Excellence
ü Science and Innovation
ü Learner-centered
ü Development driver and nation builder
ü Public service
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14. Impact Points for Education Development
Promoting Accessibility
Empowering Rural Society
Market-oriented Education System
International Engagement
Political and Economic Capacity
Initiative Maximization
Lifelong Learning
Educational Research for Development
Public Private Partnership
Sustainable Education
Development
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15. Development perspectives in
education sector
Preschool
Education
Basic
Education
Higher
Education
Vocational
Education
Adult
Education
Rural
Education
Lifelong
Education
Remote and
Distant
Education
User-
oriented
Education
Education
Sector
Development
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16. Education Gap
Knowledge Gap
Intellectual Gap
Economic Gap
Social Conflict
Current scenario in society
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17. No. Department M.Sc holders Ph.D holders Total
1 Department of Agriculture 43 28 71
2 Department of Industrial Crops Development 28 8 36
3 Department of Agricultural Research 18 15 33
4 Department of Agricultural Planning 16 4 20
5 Irrigation Development 15 4 19
6 Yezin Agricultural University 14 39 53
7 Settlement and Land Record Department 10 1 11
8 Water Resource Department 7 - 7
9 Farm Mechanization Department 2 - 2
10 Myanma Agricultural Development Bank 2 - 2
Total 155 99 254
Number of Agricultural Professionals trained
abroad (as of October, 2013)
Provision of incentive career to professionals
is needed.
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18. Key messages for education sector
development
• Mainstreaming and streamlining
• Prioritization
• Skill building
• Good institutional practices and culture
• Improved interconnectivity
• Well formulated investment strategies
• Sustained political will and supports
• Engagement with stakeholders
• Mindset changes
• Emerging national comprehensive educational development plan
• Professional career planning
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19. Urgent needs
• Full organizational strength of education
institutions
• Curriculum review and reform for demand side
• Development of campus as well as teaching and
learning environment
• SWOT analysis and road mapping
• Equity and Diversity in access to education
• Prioritization and Participatory university
comprehensive development plan and bottom up
exercise
• University management reform
• Staff development; leadership and management
• Strengthening and effective use of IT in degree and
non-degree training programs
• Linking to industry
• Investment strategies
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20. Thank You
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