The Department of Basic Education began the first day of their coordination meeting for 2019-2020 academic year at BEHS 6 in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning.
 

Union Minister for Education Dr Myo Thein Gyi, the department’s Director-General U Ko Lay Win and its deputy directors-general and officials, the deputy directors for education and planning of state/regional education offices, district education officials and others attended the meeting.
 

Speaking at the meeting, the Union Minister said they have successfully implemented the new KG curriculum during the 2016-2017 academic year, the new Grade 1 curriculum in the year after that, the new curriculum for Grade 2 in 2018-2019 academic year, and are implementing the new curricula for grades 3 and 6 this year.
He said they will implement the new curricula for grades 4, 7 and 10 in the next academic year.
 

The Union Minister called for officials to carefully explain the changes to the curricula, examination models and completion certificates to the students, parents and general public.
 

He said the new curriculum incorporates 21st century methodologies that encourages student participation, cooperation, innovation and individual development through student-centred approaches.
 

Furthermore, the ministry has also distributed new teacher’s manuals that explain the new methodologies and lesson plans for the teachers to follow through, said the Union Minister. He said they have also provided the necessary teaching aid for each grade. He said we must review the weaknesses and base changes on the strengths of the new curricula.
 

A survey by JICA (CREATE) showed that Grade 2 students preferred the new maths textbook over the old one, said the Union Minister. He said students who learned through the new textbooks also scored higher on their tests, as well as becoming more adept at solving logical questions.
 

The favoured new textbooks in descending order is Myanmar (25.9%), Art (25.8%), English (16.9%), Physical Education (8.1%) and Mathematics (8.0%), said the Union Minister.
 

He thanked JICA (CREATE), principals, teachers, parents, guardians and the general public for their cooperation on behalf of MoE. He remarked that private sector cooperation is also important for improving the quality of education.
 

The Union Minister urged attendees to discuss the difficulties present on the ground in detail and for teachers to enthusiastically learn and teach the currently implementing education plans.
 

Next, U Ko Lay Win and Deputy Director-General Dr Tin Maung Win explained the policies concerning the current education reforms and the ongoing tasks. The coordination meeting continues today. —MNA

(Translated byZaw Htet Oo)