Burma's lost generation

[TheTruth@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Burma's lost generation 

           Former Burmese students continue their protests, in Bangkok 

           By regional analyst Joe Havely: 

           For much of the past decade, Burma's universities and
           high schools have been silent. 

           An entire generation has missed out on education, and
           those who do have training are leaving the country. 

           These are Burma's lost generation. 


                     Burma was once one of the most
                     economically promising countries in
                     Asia. But years of economic
                     mismanagement have made it one of
                     the poorest in the world. 

                     The student 'threat' 

           Burma's military leaders have long been suspicious of
           campus politics. After seizing power in 1962, the army
           blew up the student's union building at Rangoon
           University. 

           "The government has never understood the students"
           says Kyi Kyi May, head of the BBC Burmese Service.
           "Even the smallest protests were seen as a threat." 

           After the military crackdown in 1988, many students who
           took part in the protests were forced to flee the country.
           As universities were closed, those who had their
           education cut short were forced to work as trishaw
           drivers, road sweepers or even prostitutes. 


                          Some were educated at
                          home or in the private
                          schools that sprang up for
                          those that could afford them.
                          But subjects like medicine,
                          law and accountancy are
                          difficult to teach outside
                          established universities. 

                          Strict control 

                          Today the man in charge of
                          Burma's education system is
                          Lt-General Khin Nyunt - the
           head of military intelligence and the strongman of the
           Burmese government. 

           The government fears that student gatherings may
           rekindle the flames of political opposition and he has
           strict control of what is taught. 

           "There's no freedom to chose courses," says Aye Min, a
           former Burmese university lecturer. "Everything must be
           submitted to the government-controlled senate for
           approval." 


                     It is a different story for the rulers'
                     children. They have access to
                     education abroad and are guaranteed
                     jobs in the many business interests
                     run by the generals. 

           Standards plummet 

           Although the government says it values education, under
           military rule, 40% of Burma's national budget is devoted
           to military spending - a mere 5% goes on education. 

           Wages have been so low that those with the skills to
           teach are unwilling to work. 


                          The poorly-trained teachers
                          that do work are made to
                          teach according to strict
                          guidelines and are
                          responsible for preventing
                          their students from engaging
                          in unauthorised political
                          activities. 

                          Aye Min says teaching
                          quality has suffered: "When
                          the universities are open
                          there is a feeling that they
                          have to make up for lost
           time. So they've cut the length of time it takes to get a
           BA or BSc from four years to just four months." 

           The cumulative effect is that standards plummet: new
           teachers are not trained, skills and knowledge do not get
           passed down, and an educational rot sets in. 

           Brain drain 

           Added to this is the steady departure of Burma's trained
           professionals - doctors, surgeons, engineers and
           lawyers - frustrated at the lack of opportunity. 


                          Many young professionals
                          protested alongside the
                          students in 1988. At the
                          time, it was difficult for
                          people to emigrate. 

                          But since then, says Kyi Kyi
                          May, the government has
                          freed up the system: "The
                          government decided that if
                          they're not happy, they
                          should let them go. That
                          leaves fewer people to speak
                          out against them." 

           While the generals live in luxury, for those that remain
           life is hard. Kyi Kyi May has spoken to many people in
           Rangoon who say they often have to live without
           electricity or running water. 

           "Deprived of these necessities people are more worried
           about this than democracy" she says. 


                     Without an educated society many
                     observers fear that an efficient civilian
                     government and civil service cannot
                     emerge. 

                     John Jackson of the human rights
                     organisation Burma Action Group
                     says the junta's policy is to
                     "deliberately encourage a brain drain."
           He says that by preventing the emergence of an
           alternative, the generals believe they can hold on to
           power. 

           Burma has the potential to be a rich country. It has oil,
           gas and other mineral reserves, and the country used to
           be one of the world's major rice exporters. 

           But in the grip of Burma's generals, exploitation of the
           country's resources is channelled to the ruling elite, and
           they are keen to keep it this way. 

           After all says Kyi Kyi May, "the military didn't take
           power just to give it back again."