Quotations About the Burmese Education System
Quotations About the Burmese Education System
Quotations About the Burmese Education System
Quotations About the Burmese Education System
"The Committee
for Open Schools believes that because of the oppressive SPDC (military) re-
gime, the future of Burma has become very bleak. The future of a country is its youth, and educa-
tion is a way of ensuring the youth's future. However, in Burma the youth have been denied their
universal right to education, merely because they are viewed as a threat to the military's totalitar-
ian rule".
Campaign Committee for Open Schools, Chiang Mai, Thailand, June 2000.
"Even in some of the worst dictatorships around the world, for example in Iraq and North Korea, I
have never heard of a regime closing down completely a university. This is a crime. A crime
against the country, a crime against the future of the country".
Jose Ramos Horta - (East Timor Nobel Laureat).
"Only schools where military personnel have children attending have resources supplied and the
standards of education have fallen throughout Burma."
Ma Ma ( Burmese school teacher).
"Sometimes the military came to our villages and even burned our school. We were ready to pack
all the time to live in the jungle and eat fruit and leaves. We never finished our education. We
never had the opportunity to learn without worry. I would like to build a school for kids who have
no future. I would like to get teachers for my people. I would like to say `Don't give up. Try to be
the best. Don't be afraid'. I don't think other governments in the world would deny the education
of their people. I think only Burma is doing it. I feel really sorry".
Ne Min 20 year old Karin (Ethnic group within Burma) refugee.
"Burma is facing a brain drain. They're using education as a weapon against the people. Most of
those arrested are educated people and students because they fear them. Besides the brutal
prison conditions there are reading and writing restrictions in the prisons. The less educated peo-
ple in the country - the greater the regime's control!"
Bo Gyi - former student leader and political prisoner in Burma and now campaigner for
political prisoners living in the Thai border area.
"A dangerous development has taken place in Burma where the education of the military backed
regime supporters and the rest of the population have been separated. A military elite and the
rest are being created. A house divided does not auger well, either for the military or for the civil-
ians and for the future of Burma. A nation can only prosper when there is unity and a belief that
there is justice. If the people are uneducated they will not be able to advance. Our people want to
enjoy security, freedom and the right to advancement. Justice is a dream we are determined to
realise."
Aung San Suu Kyi (National League for Democracy leader - The NLD won over 80% of
the votes in the 1990 elections but the military have refused to accept the result.)
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