Education Sector

Myanmar has an appetite for international education. The government is planning to increase the budget allocation for the education sector from 3% to 8% of GDP (£151 million to £704 million) and generally favours the UK’s standards and qualifications. Due to the vast skills shortage across many sectors, lack of vocational skills and minimal interest in pursuing vocational qualifications instead of academic equivalents, expanding and strengthening the quality of technical and vocational training is one of the key highlight areas in reforming the education system according to the National Education Strategic Plan (2016- 2021).

The majority of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) & Higher Education (HE) programs are undertaken by the Ministry of Education and other related ministries, whilst some universities and vocational training institutes have been established with the assistance of development partners such as Asian Development Bank, European Investment Bank, Department for International Development and German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).

Other non-formal TVET programs and HE programs are provided by local education providers and through public-private partnerships.

14:00 – 15:30 Education Sector Workshop

Key Discussion Areas

Overview of the Myanmar’s education sector including education reform processes
What are the major concerns and challenges facing Myanmar’s education system reform?
What are the skills students need to secure the jobs of the future?
What is the relationship between TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) & Higher Education (HE) in providing skills and how do they complement each other?
How can the public, private and third-sector institutions work together increase skilled labour in the country and share knowledge on the best practices of the UK in developing public-private-partnerships?
Sharing the issues and challenges of Myanmar in facing public, private and third-sector partnerships and sharing suggestions for developing an action plan for sustainable development in the education sector.

Panel Members

Moderator: Aisling Conboy, Higher Education Specialist, DIT

Myanmar

Dr. Myo Kywe, Chairman of NEPC, National Education Policy Commission

Aung Chit Khin, Founder & Managing Director of Strategy First University

Khin Aye Win, Managing Director of STI Myanmar University

Poht Poht Kyi, Founder & Managing Director of MIU, Myanmar Imperial University

Jonathan Ledger, TVET Specialist representing UK Skills Partnership

Speakers biographies here.