Myanmar’s basic education curriculum gets a makeover
Myanmar’s basic education curriculum gets a makeover
Myanmar Times, 09 Mar 2017
URL: http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/special-features/educentre/25297-myanmar-s-basic-education-curriculum-gets-a-makeover.html
The duration for schooling was increased to be on par with international standards and the new curriculum was drawn up to develop students in five sectors.
Myanmar's basic education curriculum is about 30 years old, with the last amendment made in 1985. Widely considered to be out-of-date, Myanmar’s education system is left behind compared with the international community.
Children grow up with less critical thinking skills under the by-heart learning system which no longer fits in with this age of technology.
Therefore, the Department of Education Research Bureau under the Education Department started drawing up a new curriculum in 2012. After three years, a new syllabus – the KG standard – was introduced in the 2016-17 academic year.
“The curriculum is changed in accordance with the National Education Law, to match international standards,” said Dr Khine Myae, former director general of the Department of Education Research Bureau.
The National Education Law was approved on September 30, 2014, with its amendments approved on June 25, 2015. This educational law was the very first of its kind in Myanmar.
According to National Education Law Chapter (5), section (16) (a), Basic Education is divided into three levels, namely Primary Education, Middle School Education and High School Education. Under the government curriculum, a student will have 12 years of education after the completion of kindergarten.
In the past, schooling begins at five, whereas other ASEAN countries begin at 6 years old, and a student will only have 11 years of formal schooling.
The duration for schooling was increased to be on par with international standards and the new curriculum was drawn up to develop five strengths – physical, intellectual, moral, friendship and wealth.
The curriculum will be changed in stages for students in the coming academic years, and the curriculum of Standard 2 students will be changed in the 2018-19 academic year, while the curriculum of Standard 3 students will be changed in the 2019-20 academic year. For Standard 4 and Standard 5 students, the curriculum will change in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 academic years respectively.
Middle and high school education’s curricula will continue to be drawn with the help of Asian Development Bank.
Myanmar's basic education curriculum is about 30 years old, with the last amendment made in 1985. Widely considered to be out-of-date, Myanmar’s education system is left behind compared with the international community.
Children grow up with less critical thinking skills under the by-heart learning system which no longer fits in with this age of technology.
Therefore, the Department of Education Research Bureau under the Education Department started drawing up a new curriculum in 2012. After three years, a new syllabus – the KG standard – was introduced in the 2016-17 academic year.
“The curriculum is changed in accordance with the National Education Law, to match international standards,” said Dr Khine Myae, former director general of the Department of Education Research Bureau.
The National Education Law was approved on September 30, 2014, with its amendments approved on June 25, 2015. This educational law was the very first of its kind in Myanmar.
According to National Education Law Chapter (5), section (16) (a), Basic Education is divided into three levels, namely Primary Education, Middle School Education and High School Education. Under the government curriculum, a student will have 12 years of education after the completion of kindergarten.
In the past, schooling begins at five, whereas other ASEAN countries begin at 6 years old, and a student will only have 11 years of formal schooling.
The duration for schooling was increased to be on par with international standards and the new curriculum was drawn up to develop five strengths – physical, intellectual, moral, friendship and wealth.
The curriculum will be changed in stages for students in the coming academic years, and the curriculum of Standard 2 students will be changed in the 2018-19 academic year, while the curriculum of Standard 3 students will be changed in the 2019-20 academic year. For Standard 4 and Standard 5 students, the curriculum will change in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 academic years respectively.
Middle and high school education’s curricula will continue to be drawn with the help of Asian Development Bank.