We all need education to prepare ourselves for the future. The skills and knowledge that we learn allow us to develop and reach our potential. We learn to express our talents and opinions. Education is priceless and that has been taken away from the students in Burma (Myanmar) by the military government. The latest news heard is that medical universities have opened up. However, all the other universities are still closed since more than 3 years ago. Now because of the paranoia about 9999, even high schools are heard to be closed. During the past decade, universities have been closed on and off. When they open again, a semester is taught in 3 months and a year is taught in 6 months to reduce the accumulation of high school graduates waiting to enter the universities. Since the 1988 demostrations in Myanmar, schools have been disrupted to the fancy of the authority. Youths were left idling their times in coffee houses and working minimal pay jobs. Some girls were reduced to working as call girls or prostitutes. Some get married early and raised children with whatever little education that they had. Burmese respect knowledge. Majority of them are hardworking people. If given a chance, they would have created their niche in the educated world. However, their chance was not given since the military coupe in the 1960's. The government is letting the youger generations go to waste because that fits their purpose when no one is well educated enough to rebel with an organized thought.
Rangoon University used to be the best of all colleges in Asia at one time in history. Scholars from all over Asia travelled far and wide to come to educate themselves in Rangoon University. My parents were educated there and my father was even awarded a scholarship to go to England for his graduate studies. His education in Burma had allowed him to be an honor student in his graduate school. Many graduates of the universities in Burma hold high positions and excellent jobs in their career overseas. However, most of these well-educated and well-paid Burmese are from the older generation when education was still of high standards in Burma. The new generation did not have the fortune to enjoy these high standards of education because of the military government. It is not to say that the Burmese with a degree from a Burmese university is not familiar with his/her field or skillful. It is only that these poor students have to pressurize themselves to study so much information in such short a time. The cirriculum may contain all the vital and basic necessary knowledge required in the field of study, but the limited time and lack of educational or instructional tools (for example, lack of computers, books {from censorship, no doubt}, and restriction on what is appropriate {politically} to be taught in class) can work up to a disadvantage for the students. Thus the students have to rely solely on themselves and the help of their teachers and professors to learn everything about any particular subject.
There are alternatives to universities in Burma now since the people have to produce educated workforce without rebeling against the government. Thus private Computer or Business or English schools have been built. However, these schools can be expensive to an average Burmese student. But since Burmese respect education, they try their best to enroll themselves in these schools, in hope that they will earn a diploma or certificate that will enhance their skills and knowledge. The other side to these schools is that some of them are affiliated with overseas universities and colleges, thus allowing the students a better chance to enter or transfer into schools abroad and as a result earn a higher educational degree. However, most schools that are affiliated usually offer enigineering degrees or other more practical/professional degrees. Those who are interested in arts, humanities and other aspects of university education do not have much choice. They either enter a field they do not like or they have to sacrifice the chance to earn a degree overseas.
As can be seen, the education of Burmese in Burma are in much disarray. Although the universities, when they do open, do have a fundamental cirriculum, they do not provide the best educational experience for the Burmese students. Those who choose to study in private schools have to pay a high price for it. That is why I am urging you to do your part for the Burmese students. Please join us in the awareness of such destruction of a beautiful country. Awareness leads to action. But a great number of people around the world need to be aware first before any action can be taken. This has gone on for too long. Imagine yourself without the education that you have now, or that your children will not have the education that you can provide. Imagine working with a high school education or a degree taught so intensively that it is practically useless. This may not be your country, but this is your world. Please help your fellow mankind.