Children are one of the most assailable groups in developing nations. Others repeatedly violate and ignore their most fundamental rights. Around 428 million children live in extreme poverty, and nearly half of this number are children working in subjugated environments. Here is some information about the education crisis and education programs in Myanmar.

Education Crisis in Myanmar

Life for children in Myanmar, a country in Southeast Asia, involves child labor and early exposure to gang activity. Outside of violence and natural disasters, the youth of the country cannot progress due to an education crisis. The decline of school attendance stems from military rule in 1962. However, this was not always the case. When Myanmar was under British colonialism, hundreds of English schools opened. Myanmar became independent in 1948, and Burmese schools played a pivotal role in keeping the deprived sections of the country at a high literacy rate. The additional impact of monasteries on education gave Myanmar the reputation of one of the best education reforms in Asia. Following military dictatorship, which lasted for 26 years, are years of neglect towards school systems. Due to student protests, the dictatorship shut down large universities until the late 1990s.

Myanmar has worked to improve all areas of basic necessities for its citizens, such as power infrastructure and sanitation. Newborns and children have high mortality rates in the country, so the country has placed focus on the welfare of its youth in various ways. Education programs in Myanmar prioritize marginalized adolescents in rural areas and open doors for their future.

Education Programs in Various Forms

The Myanmar Children’s Foundation is a nonprofit organization providing aid to parents. By assisting parents with work to finance their families, rural kids will stay in monastic schools longer. Getting children past primary school gives them the confidence to pursue higher education. In addition to creating education programs in Myanmar, the organization helps build and repair schools. The Stay in School Program uses annual sponsorships to gives books and school supplies and even supports teachers.

The Myanmar Local Charitable Organization enhances access to libraries. Several projects within the organization involve improving literacy throughout the country. For example, a digital literacy program collaborated with Facebook and the Beyond Access Myanmar project to provide internet access in the libraries. Meanwhile, Tech Age Girls Myanmar encourages girls to develop ICT skills, and Scratch Programming for Kids implements coding into children’s lessons in the classroom.

Forced to work to support their families, many children drop out of school. World Education keeps Burmese kids in school through the Youth and Technology Project. The program provides essential life skills and computer-based training for children who do not have access to formal education.

Utilizing fundraising towards education, enhancing the schools and feeding students brings awareness to the Burma Humanitarian Mission’s efforts. Its Minmawhaw School established several programs ranging from additional secondary schooling to teacher training. Students are not only learning global recognition but they are also gaining a greater sense of pride for their country. Migrant children in the neighboring country of Thailand also benefit from the Burma Humanitarian Mission through the Minmahaw Higher Education Program.

It is not uncommon for children in Myanmar to grow up without parents. Global Care opened Grace Children’s Home to house disadvantaged children and provide them with proper education. Education programs in the Kayah State run through limited high schools specifically for Karenni children. A focus on maintaining Karenni culture throughout the schools and better transportation to and from school is fundamental.

Education programs in Myanmar are thriving through United World Schools, one of the prime organizations paving ways for children in the country. This program built schools for those who cannot attend government schools. Certified teaching staff also supports children speaking ethnic languages.

Prioritizing sexual and reproductive health in education programs in Myanmar also helps the lives of all children. The 360ed company is teaching children through Augmented Reality (AR), also known as virtual reality, and technological advancements. Opening up the conversation of sexual and reproductive health will counter rape cases among children in addition to decreasing HIV/AIDs cases.

Impact of Education Programs

The impact of keeping kids in school is evident through the progress that the National Education Strategic Plan evaluated. A quality education that effective nurturing of students’ dreams supports is what improves the socio-economic status of the entire nation. Proper financing of education programs in Myanmar expands goals and enriches the lives of children throughout the country.

– Sydney Stokes 
Photo: Pixabay