UNION Minister for Education Dr Myo Thein Gyi held an online meeting with teachers from the basic education, and the technological and vocational education sectors for drafting the National Education Strategic Plan (NESP) (2021-2030) yesterday morning.
The meeting was also joined by the Deputy Minister, the Permanent Secretary, Directors-General, Deputy Directors-General, teachers and relevant officials.
During the meeting, the Union Minister said that the conventional education system is based on rote learning and focuses only on exam scores. He continued that the “New Normal Education System”, with the advancement of technology, focusses on various technologies including artificial intelligence.
He said that the implementation period of NESP 2 (2021- 2030) had been set to be 10 years in order to be in line with the Myanmar Sustainable Development Plan (MSDP), the 17 goals of the Sustainable Development Goals - SDGs (2016-2030), and OECD’s Future of Education and Skills 2030.
He pointed out that universities and schools need to cooperate with societies, factories and businesses. He added that the curriculum designs need to focus on 21st-century knowledge and skills.
He said that there should be no discrimination in the implementation of NESP (2016-2021). The education system should encourage students to have humanitarian spirit, to perform tasks responsibly and to innovate.
He stressed that appointments of teachers and promotion procedures are based on the Teacher Competency Standards Framework, Career Pathways and Qualification Sheet for ensuring equal opportunities for every teacher.
He said that infrastructures; including staff housing, technological infrastructures and buildings; must be enhanced in schools in ethnic areas.
Speaking on the progress in primary learning outcomes in Myanmar, he said that Myanmar had ranked third out of six Southeast Asian nations in the Southeast Asia Primary Learning Matrix (SEA-PLM).
The Union Minister also highlighted the importance of the English language and ICT not only for students but also for teachers.
The Union Minister also reiterated UNESCO’s “Nine ideas for public action”: (1) Commit to strengthening education as a common good (2) Expand the definition of the right to education so that it addresses the importance of connectivity and access to knowledge and information (3) Value the teaching profession and teacher collaboration (4) Promote students, youth and children’s participation and rights (5) Protect the social spaces provided by schools as we transform education (6) Make free and open source technologies available to teachers and students (7) Ensure scientific literacy within the curriculum (8) Protect domestic and international financing of public education and (9) Advance global solidarity to end current levels of inequality. He urged all stakeholders to work together for the reform of education effectively. The Permanent Secretary, the Director-General of the Department of Basic Education, and other participants also made explanations, discussions and suggestions in the meeting.
MNA
(Translated by Maung Maung Swe)
Photo: MNA
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