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Up to 70% of Burmese children do not complete primary school according to the
Asian Development Bank.
The World Bank has stated that real public spending on primary school children
is less than 30 US cents per child and primary school teachers in Burma are paid
only in $3 US per month.
Second level schooling is only accessible to a small minority due to extremely
high voluntary fees and unaffordable costs such as standard textbooks which
cost an average workers weekly wage.
Over 1 million illegal Burmese workers and their families are in Thailand but are
outside the education system there due to the constant threat of discovery and
deportation.
Over 100,000 Burmese refugees are living in semi-permanent Thai border refu-
gee camps with limited educational opportunities.
Burmese school teachers say that only schools where military personnel have
children attending have resources supplied and the standards of education have
fallen throughout Burma.
Due to the political system and the poor economy only a small minority of stu-
dents can pay fees and remain in second and/or third level education. There are
practically no employment opportunities for even the small numbers of gradu-
ates from 3rd level colleges. (With the notable exception of those from the mili-
tary institutes).
Since 1988, when the military led government closed all universities and 3rd
level colleges (except military institutes), they have been open only 30 months
in total up to the summer of 2000.
Some third level colleges have re-opened this summer (June to Sept. 2000). To
attend the re-opened universities and colleges students had to sign an oath of
loyalty to the military regime. College campuses were relocated away from ur-
ban areas. Increased costs together with a climate of fear cultivated by restric-
tive regulations and military presence in the colleges mean that these establish-
ments are not in reality `open'.
Some Facts About the Burmese Education System
Some Facts About the Burmese Education System
Some Facts About the Burmese Education System
Some Facts About the Burmese Education System
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