NEWS - Burmese Education a la milit

[Rangoonp@xxxxxxx]

Subject: NEWS - Burmese Education a la militaire

Burmese Education a la militaire
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" If a state propaganda is supported by the educated class, it can be a
big
impact on society."

By Julien Moe
6th July 1999

Fact is the military regime intends to re-open universities in July but
with
the fear of another uprising which  will  be started by the students who
have a will and determination to remove the military regime in Burma,
the
junta  have suspended universities  since the coup d'etat staged in
1988.
Education in Burma has been in limbo since students were given one week
to
study  so as to sit for the exam. How the students could digest the
whole
year's curriculum never seemed to perturb the authorities. When the exam
results were announced, there were no names of the students. But the
result
was publicised like "All students who sat for the exam passed". The
future
of the education in Burma looks quite auspicious under the military
regime.

The regime is rather eager to show that  they can accomplish anything
without international support. These days very few students who are
stuck in
Burma in terms of education can afford  to attend courses instructed by
small educational institutions affiliated with foreign educational
institutions. 90 % of the students in Burma  are either unemployed or in
the
middle of  idling their days ,abusing drugs.

Student exchange programmes conducted for medical colleges benefit only
sons
and daughters of the military elites and the wealthy. Security has been
set
up tighter than ever. With the public relations stunts held in Rangoon
for
ASEAN for the purpose of tricking the international community, the
regime
has never been concerned about the education  of the young Burmese
generation. If a state propaganda is supported by the educated class, it
can
be a big impact on society. That will not happen in Burma because the
government has no intention and good will to win the trust of the
students
who need education desperately. When schools were re-opened, there could
be
another curriculum to teach the students: Course SPDC 101 :How to
accomplish
your educational goals without interruption just to intimidate the
students
not to participate in the political assemblies against the government.
Yet

will the students want the same status quo education ? The miliatry
government will have to find out what's what  when universities are
actually
re-opened.