Myanmar has been endeavoring to promote literacy in the country as part of its bid to raise the nation's education standard in line with the international level.

Adult literacy rate in the country went up in 2013, hitting as high as 95.13 percent.

It was attributed to the opening of more than 43,100 basic education schools across the country in 2013-14 academic year for creation of more learning opportunities for the students.

Education Minister Mya Aye called for establishment of constant learning Myanmar society through basic literacy activities of the entire people so as to build a democratic nation.

Other education officials also emphasized at Sunday's literacy- related function the need for all the people to be educated to catch up with the advancement of technology in the education era.

It was pointed out that the fundamental need for human resources development in the entire nation is especially the younger generation who are to assume the responsibility of future nation.

Application of modern science and technology in various fields and nurturing of highly competent intellectuals with high technical know-how stands the top priority for effective facilitation of the national development.

Illiteracy eradication movement was first launched in Myanmar 1964 to accelerate the then momentum of literacy programs.

Since the implementation of enrollment of all school-age children, the rate of enrollment of children under five has been increasing year after year.

Myanmar has started drafting of Comprehensive Education Sector Review (CESR), putting cohesive efforts into weak spots in cooperation with the UN agencies, international organizations and educational donors.

In 2012, a conference on Development Policy Options with Special Reference to Education and Health in cooperation with UN agencies was organized in Nay Phi Taw.

To promote literacy, Myanmar marked the International Literacy Day yearly under the aegis of the Ministry of Education and the UNESCO ( the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization ) since 1966.

The 10 years' period from 2003 to 2012 was unanimously designated as United Nations Literacy Decade under the convention of the United Nations General Assembly 2012 with the aim of guaranteeing primary education to everyone and supporting literacy programs for the adult.

As an encouragement to the development of the literary world, a number of private foundations were set up.

The foundations presented literary awards which cover over a dozen categories including life-time literary awards, Myanmar book awards, manuscript awards, English book award and English manuscript award. The awards deal with various genres such as economy, health, environmental conservation and culture.

In addition to the private awards, the government also offers 15 national-level literary awards (NLA) and 13 Sarpay Beikman ( Literature House) manuscript (SBM) awards every year.

Official statistics show that the number of state-operated basic education schools in the country has increased to 41,000 where a total of over 8.1 million students are pursuing education under the guidance of over 270,000 teachers.

In the higher education sector, there has been 161 universities and colleges.

Meanwhile, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) pledged to support Myanmar in development of human resources and flourishing of democracy in the country.

Myanmar scored Mohammad Reza Pahlavi Award presented by UNESCO in 1971 and Noma Prize in 1983.