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News&Views: Literacy in Myanmar
- Subject: News&Views: Literacy in Myanmar
- From: myanmar99@xxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 24 Sep 1999 08:34:00
Literacy in Myanmar
( SOURCE: News and views from Myanmar ,Vol-1 ,No-36 )
The Literacy rate of Myanmar was considered quite high since precolonial
times because of monastic education. The literacy rate went down to as low
as 35 percent only when monastic education had been disrupted with the
colonization of Myanmar.
After the regaining of independence in 1948, the Mass education law was
promulgated and mass eradication of illiteracy programmes were introduced.
In 1964, national literacy campaign was launched and due to its successful
movement, Myanmar was awarded Mohammed Reza Pahlavi Literacy Prize in 1971
and the Noma Prize in 1983 by UNESCO.
After 1988, the new government continues to promote literacy in accordance
with its one of the social objectives, " Uplift of health ,fitness and
education standards of the entire nation". Like other countries, Myanmar
has its own Education for All (EFA) 2000 Programme after the World
Conference on Education for All held in Thailand in 1990. The national EFA
Co-ordination Committee has laid down policy guidelines and various
committees down to the village level had been implementing these programmes.
Myanmar held the 1999 International Literacy Day on September 8, 1999 at
Myanmar Educational Research Bureau with an address by the Chairman of
Myanmar Education Committee Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development
Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt. In his address, Secretary-1 pointed out that
"Literacy is a tool for education" which enables us to create a modern and
developed nation. He also emphasized the requirements of continuing
education programme for those who had obtained basic literacy. He added
continuing education programme covered literacy promotion, income
generation and better life programmes through reading circles and community
learning centres. He also mentioned the cooperation of international
organizations like Asia/Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU) and
UNESCO (PROAP) in this field. As a result of the cooperation between the
Ministry of Education and these organizations, Myanmar literacy Recourses
Centre (MLRC) is going to emerge in the !
very near future.
After Secretary-1 had given an address, Resident Representative of UNDP Mr.
Patrice Coeur-Bizot made a speech. Then, General Secretary of Myanmar
UNESCO National Commission U Han Tin read the message of Mr. Frederico
Meyor, director-general of UNESCO. The ceremony was followed by a paper
reading session which presented papers on Literacy efforts of Sagaing
Division, Mandalay Division and Ayeyawady Division and papers on EFA the
year 2000 Assessment and an Overview of Literacy in the Asia and the
Pacific.
With the concerted efforts of the government, people and international
organizations, it can be expected to wipe out illiteracy and achieve
literacy in the near future.
Interested participants may contact Myatmikhin Wuntha Rekkhita Association
(Tel: (+95)-1-220721).
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