National Education Strategic Plan 2016-21

The Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar

Ministry of Education

2016

National Education Strategic Plan

20162021

The Republic of the Union of Myanmar Ministry of Education

4 NATIONAL EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN 201621

ESExecutive Summary

Page 8

1General background

on Myanmars education system

Page 30

3NESP Goal and

Transformational Shifts

Page 60

4Preschool and Kindergarten

Education

Page 70

7Basic Education

Curriculum

Page 112

9Teacher Education and

Management

Page 138

10Alternative

Education (AE)

Page 156

13Management, Capacity

Development and Quality Assurance

Page 204

5NATIONAL EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN 201621

2Education Sector

Challenges

Page 44

5Basic Education Reforms for the

21st Century

Page 84

6Basic Education

Access, Quality and Inclusion

Page 98

8Student Assessment

and National Examinations

Page 126

Annexes, Acronyms and Bibliography

Page 250

11Technical and

Vocational Education and Training (TVET)

Page 170

12Higher Education

Page 186

14Financing the

National Education Strategic Plan

Page 230

Foreword

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HE Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

State Counsellor

The Republic of the Union of Myanmar

Foreword

The purpose of Myanmars national education system is to equip our students, youth and

adult learners with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in the 21st century. In the

coming years we must aspire to establishing an accessible, equitable and quality national

education system that helps all our students and learners to discover their talents, realise

their full potential and develop a passion for learning that lasts them throughout their

lives. Our education system must ensure that all our citizens achieve minimum national

learning standards, learn how to think critically and creatively, gain leadership skills that

enable them to help others in their communities, and understand, respect and fulfil the

rights and responsibilities of all citizens.

Accessible and quality education is essential for our children to shape and grow their

ideas, perceptions, behaviours and values. Education is the foundation for Myanmars

sustainable social and economic development. Education will play a key role in securing

the lasting peace and security of the nation.

The national education system in Myanmar requires a major transformation in the

coming years to meet the growing expectations and aspirations of our students, youth,

parents and citizens. To this end, the Ministry of Education (MOE) of the Republic of the

Union of Myanmar has developed and launched the National Education Strategic Plan

NESP (2016-21) to provide a detailed roadmap for comprehensive and phased education

reforms to be undertaken over the next five years.

Over the last three-and-a-half years the MOE, with the support of partner ministries,

senior national advisers, national and international organisations, development partners

and education stakeholders from across the country, has undertaken a landmark

Comprehensive Education Sector Review (CESR). This remarkable initiative has helped the

MOE widely discuss the challenges and opportunities to transform our education sector

in order to provide students, youth and adult learners with educational opportunities that

will enable them to fulfil their career and lifelong learning aspirations. A key achievement

of the CESR initiative has been the publication of comprehensive, evidence-based and

widely consulted National Education Strategic Plan (NESP). This important document

will play a central role in focusing our collective efforts on meaningful and measurable

change in the education sector for the benefit of all citizens and our country.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank MOE officials and CESR team members

who have worked tirelessly over the last three-and-a-half years to successfully complete

the three phases of CESR. I would also like to thank national CESR advisers who have

provided invaluable strategic advice that has informed the drafting of the NESP. I express

my sincere thanks to education development partners who have provided long-term

support, technical assistance and funding for the CESR initiative since it was established

in 2012.

Following the successful implementation of the CESR we must now shift our collective

focus to implementing NESP programmes. Furthermore, we must reach out and mobilise

support from all education stakeholders across the country. Through working closely

together over the next five years we can achieve a great deal to transform Myanmars

education system and substantially raise the learning standards of all our students.

HE Dr Myo Thein Gyi

Union Minister

Ministry of Education

The Republic of the Union of Myanmar

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8 NATIONAL EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN 201621EXEC. SUMMARY

Executive Summary

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10 NATIONAL EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN 201621EXEC. SUMMARY

1.0 Introduction

In todays global economy a nations success depends fundamentally

on the knowledge, skills and competencies of its people. Countries

which invest in education are likely to reap substantial long-term

benefits, such as greater economic and social prosperity.

Education provides individuals with the opportunity to improve their

lives, become successful members of their communities and actively

contribute to national socio-economic development. In Myanmar

society education is traditionally valued as a key determinant for social

mobility and it is widely recognised as a critical building block for nation

building, national unity and sustainable development. Furthermore,

education and poverty alleviation have been identified as two key

drivers to support the democratic and peace-building process and

to achieve the national goal of Myanmar becoming a upper Middle

Income Country by 2030.

In recent years Myanmars national education system has come under

increased public scrutiny and debate due to growing expectations

among students, parents, employers and citizens for education reforms

that will improve access, quality, and equity in the main education sub-

sectors preschool, kindergarten, primary, secondary and alterative

education, and technical, vocational and higher education.

Furthermore, there is broad consensus that major shifts are required

in the coming years to transform the national education system and

ensure that all students progress through the education cycle, achieve

quality learning standards and fulfil their career and lifelong learning

goals and aspirations.

Executive Summary

In response to these expectations, the Ministry of Education (MOE) has

undertaken a three-and-a- half year Comprehensive Education Sector

Review (CESR) involving three phases: a rapid sector assessment (Phase

1); in-depth research and analysis of critical sub-sector challenges (Phase

2); and drafting and building ownership for an evidence-based and,

costed National Education Strategic Plan (NESP) for the period 201621

(Phase 3).

The NESP provides the government, education stakeholders and

citizens with a roadmap for sector-wide education reforms over

the next five years that will dramatically improve access to quality

education for students at all levels of the national education system.

20 NESP goal

The MOE commits to achieving the following NESP goal statement by

the end of the 202021 financial year:

Improved teaching and learning, vocational education and training,

research and innovation leading to measurable improvements in

student achievement in all schools and educational institutions.

The three main reasons for this goal are as follows.

1 High expectations from parents and students

There is universal consensus among education stakeholders consulted

to develop the NESP that parents want their children to significantly

improve their learning achievement at all levels of the national

education system. To address these expectations wide-ranging

reforms and innovative strategies and programmes will be undertaken

over the next five years to improve student learning in all schools and

educational institutions.

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11NATIONAL EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN 201621 EXEC. SUMMARY

2 Teachers have a key role to play in implementation of NESP reforms

There is convincing national and international research evidence that

highlights the crucial role to be played by teachers in the successful

implementation of the reforms outlined in the NESP. For example,

in the basic education sub-sector teachers will play a key role