The education system in Burma/Myanmar has been in continuous transformation since the country’s opening in 2010. Regardless of the new education reforms and plans, the network of education in many areas is still underdeveloped or missing. Event the elementary education in many rural and conflict areas is unavailable.

Today the main problems for the minorities are the access to to education in general, the quality of the education and the possibility to learn in their mother tongue.  The official government schools are teaching only in Burmese language, which is unknown for most of the minority groups from rural areas. Often the first time the village kids hear Burmese language is at school.

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• Officially recognised education is provided only in Burmese language

• Education in rural and conflict areas is often out of reach

• Network of education is underdeveloped or missing

• Minority groups in rural areas don’t speak any Burmese

 

Different type of school in Shan State:

• Government schools

• Monastic schools

• Community school

• Military school, founded by minority military groups

• Private schools

Beside the government school, which don’t take into account the needs of the minority kids and are out of reach for most of the students, there are many other institutions and NGOs providing the elementary, middle and high school education. Monastic and community schools, founded by Buddhist temples have great importance. They are usually created and supported by the local villages, monasteries and sometimes also by NGOs. Also Shan army groups have established and financed schools, which follow the military curriculum. In recent years, more and more private schools are created, which are affordable only for the rich urban families.  But nevertheless, there are tens of thousends of kids in Shan area, who never reach the elementary school.