Education for All
By U Myint Han, Chairman, Myanmar Education Research Bureau
Education
Education is the process by which human behavior (thinking, acting and feeling) can be changed.
Education Programme
It can make people change the way of thinking, acting and feeling.
Modes of Education
1. Formal Education (FE): rigid.
2. Non-formal education (NFE): flexible.
3. Informal Education (IFE): lifelong learning.
Education for 21st Century
It is the formation of learning society by transforming education systems to be less rigid, more creative and more able to adapt to the demands of the 21st century. It includes not only FE but NFE and IFE.
Lifelong Learning
It includes FE, NFE and IFE extended throughout the life span of an individual to attain the fullest possible development in a personal, social and professional life.
It seeks to view education in its totality. Lifelong learning is usually characterized by flexibility, diversity, universality and dynamism.
Non-formal Education
It includes any systematically organized educational activity outside the formal school system. (Not time-bound, place-bound, exam-bound, etc)..
The target audience is the out-of-school population. Education is no longer confined to institutionalized learning.
Literacy: the basic tool for learning.
Basic literacy: 3Rs.
Basic education: basic literacy and life skills.
Continuing Education (CE).
It includes all of the learning opportunities all people want or need outside of basic literacy and primary education. The components of CE are:
1. Post-Literacy Programmes.
2. Income Generation Programme.
3. Quality of Life Improvement Programme.
4. Individual Interest Improvement Programme.
5. Future Oriented Programme.
6. Equivalency Programme.
Community Learning Center (CLC)
Community learning center is the multi-purpose institution usually established, management and utilized by the local people. (With them. By them. For them concept).
CLC can provide the resources for local development and family-oriented learning and information about what, how, where and when individuals can engage in various types of education socially. It is also a recreative and educative venue. It's main functions are coordination and networking among other CLCs.
Education for All (EFA)
EFA goals: six main areas of action:
1. Expansion of early childhood care and developmental activities (ECCD).
2. Universal access to and completion of primary education.
3. Improvement in learning achievement (QPE).
4. Reduction of adult illiteracy rate (EOI).
5. Expansion of basic education and training for youth and adults (CE) and
6. Increased acquisition by individuals
Five principles for promoting basic education:
1. Universalizing access and promoting equity.
2. Focussing on learning.
3. Broadening the means and scope of basic education.
4. Enhancing the learning environment.
5. Strengthening partnerships.
EFA in Myanmar
Goals:
1. Expansion of early childhood development activities.
2. Universal access to basic education and completion of primary education by at least 80 percent school aged children through formal education.
3. Reducing adult illiteracy rate to at least half of the 1990 level through non-formal education (22% to 11% by the year 2000);
4. Increased acquisition by individuals and families of knowledge, skills and values for better (Provision CE through CLCs) Operation plan for implementation.
1996 - 97: 30 townships.
1997 - 98: 80 townships.
1998 - 99: 100 townships.
1999 - 00: 114 townships.
2000 - 01: Total completion.
Achievements
With the strong national will and the energetic community participation, the achievements are as follows:
1. Enrolment rate (1999): 91%.
2. Adult illiteracy rate (1999): 9%.
3. Pre-school education centers: 1,716.
4. Provision of CE in Mandalay, Magwe, Sagaing and Ayerawaddy divisions.
5. MLRC as the technical centers.
6. 10 capacity building workshops at MERB.
7. Education promotion programmes (1998, 1999 and 2000).
8. National education quality improvement special four year plan (2000 - 2003).
9. Modernization of Myanmar Education System.
10. Paradigm shift in Education.
Conclusion
EFA in Myanmar with special emphasis on NFE can be analyzed by SWOT method that is (S = Strength, W = Weakness, O = opportunities and T = Threaters) in the areas of scope, type, monitoring and evaluation, formulating the future trend for the formation of the learning society, the thinking nation and the human resources development in Myanmar.
Copyright � NUSSU Alliance for Human Development Projects 2002