27 May

Schools are about to reopen for the academic year 2019-2020, and parents and students across the country are busy enrolling in schools during the registration period from 25 to 31 May.

Everywhere around the nation, people are encouraged to enroll children in schools, with authorities promoting the slogan: “Everyone must cooperate to ensure school-age children can access quality education without discrimination”.

The Ministry of Education has also issued 17 statements on public media, notifying every principal, school faculty and relevant official to maintain proper conduct during the 2019-2020 academic year, including a restriction on collecting or accepting any form of payment from students and their parents.

MoE – the Ministry of Education has also announced that their revised national curriculum will foster better discipline in students, greater love for their country, increased tolerance for cooperation, a sense of equality, and heightened innovative thinking and reasoning.

Physical education, art, music and social studies were previously extracurricular subjects, but are now upgraded to primary subjects in the new curriculum. Furthermore, authorities will have to provide necessary support to ensure each school has the required facilities and equipment to teach these new subjects.

Nevertheless, the new curriculum is already aiming to transition from the previous education system into one in which students are taught and guided by skilled teachers to develop their mental capabilities and ability to find solutions to problems on their own. This will nurture a future generation of valuable citizens.

During her visit to Pyinmana’s Basic Education High School No.2 in Nay Pyi Taw on 21st May, State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi remarked that our nation still had a long road ahead in development, but the chief priority remained reforming the education system. She said that it would be possible to catch up with other countries within a short period of time if the education system could be reformed. She also expressed her wish for our students to be smarter in a unique way to those in other nations, and for the country’s students to excel in both academics and mental discipline.

Teachers and parents need to work with each other and with students to develop a positive learning environment for children, both at school and at home. This will create a positive attitude towards education and literature in students, and remain with them for the rest of their lives.

Schools are about to reopen and Grades 3 and 6 will begin teaching their new curriculum. No matter how good the curriculum becomes, it will not be of much use without skilled and capable teachers to fully utilize it. We wish for the Union government to increase its support to teachers, who are investing time and energy into the education sector and promoting the literacy and capabilities of the future generation of our country.

GNLM