Health and Education Crisis

Burma is in the midst of a health and education crisis. Educational opportunities and academic freedom have been severely restricted for four decades. Anti-intellectual ideology has been enforced by the military in an attempt to control the movement of students and teachers nation-wide.

Background

Few regimes in the world today are more repressive than the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) in Burma. In 1988 there was a bloody military crackdown on the democracy movement. In 1990, the first democratic elections were held in Burma since 1962. The National League for Democracy (NLD) swept to victory, winning 82% of the vote. The election results were ignored by the military which banned opposition activities, imprisoned or banished its leaders, and harshly repressed street demonstrations. The military regime has continued to rule the country with increasing brutality since 1990.

Road to Ruin

Described 50 years ago as the "jewel of South East Asia", Burma won two UNESCO awards for promoting literacy in the 1970's. But by 1990, Burma was considered one of the poorest countries in the world with a rapidly deteriorating education system. The imposition of military rule has set Burma firmly on the road to ruin.

Health and Education Crisis

All social services, particularly health and education systems have suffered terribly under the SPDC dictatorship which has neglected social services in favour of military expenditure.

A UNICEF survey in1995 found that:

• 40% of school aged children have never attended primary school
• 26% of parents could not afford the costs of primary schooling for their children
• three out of ten children never even start school
• only 40% of those who do start school are able to finish at the primary level

Official figures state that literacy rates in Burma are 83%, however, some experts believe that functional literacy rates are probably closer to 30%, pointing to a deterioration in the quality of education.

The greatest barrier of access to primary and secondary education is poverty. Cuts in government spending for education has meant an increase in costs to families. Parents incur significant costs in the form of a series of taxes and donations paid to the education department, the school and the teachers.

Knowledge is a Dangerous Tool

Universities have been closed for most of the time since the 1988 pro-democracy uprising initiated by student demonstrations. The closure is an attempt to oppress students and teachers - universities were once central to political discussion and activity. As a result, an enormous backlog of students has been created and presents a dilemma for the authorities.

The junta's solution to this crisis has been further closure of universities. Shortages of everything in the field of education have contributed heavily to the downgrading of education in Burma. The lack of facilities and resources reflect an official attitude that knowledge is a dangerous tool in the hands of the people.

Junta's priorities

No government intent upon nation-building can afford to neglect education. However, the SPDC spends less that 1.2% of GNP on education (Australia spends about 7.7% GNP).

The junta spends 222% more on military expenditure than it does on health and education combined, leaving the generals in charge to pursue their own goals, which appear to have little to do with Burma's long-term well being.

A whole generation of young people in Burma are being left without the skills needed to rebuild a country that has suffered so much. In Burma, political change is urgent as young people are not only starved for knowledge, but starved of a future as well.

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Last Modified: Wednesday, 16-Nov-2005 16:05:28 EST
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