As Myanmar’s economy continues to grow, foreign investors will always have ample opportunity to establish their business presence. In the next few months, follow us as we look into Myanmar’s individual services sector, highlighting their specific challenges, opportunities and its general outlook in the long term.
Sectors we have covered:
Hotels and Tourism Part I – Tourism: an Economic Generator & Infrastructure Constraints
Hotels and Tourism Part II – Opportunities, Government Support & Outlook
Banking and Finance – The Economic Driver, Challenges, Opportunities and Forecast
Telecommunications - More than Just Talk-time, Challenges, Opportunities & Outlook
Transportation - Better Transport to Boost Economic Growth, Challenges, Opportunities and Outlook
Retail - Myanmar’s Economy Fueling the Retail Boom
A Look into Myanmar's Services Sector: Education
Myanmar’s education system was once the best in the region, with its Rangoon University being the most prestigious university in Southeast Asia. But due to its previous military regime, the quality of education declined significantly and the country is now far behind regional norms.
While the country looks to resolve its unpleasant domestic situation which have attracted global attention, there are still many more systemic fixes which are key to Myanmar’s long-term stability, and reforms in education is one of the most important. Sustaining Myanmar’s political transition depends on improving its education sector.
Sectors we have covered:
Hotels and Tourism Part I – Tourism: an Economic Generator & Infrastructure Constraints
Hotels and Tourism Part II – Opportunities, Government Support & Outlook
Banking and Finance – The Economic Driver, Challenges, Opportunities and Forecast
Telecommunications - More than Just Talk-time, Challenges, Opportunities & Outlook
Transportation - Better Transport to Boost Economic Growth, Challenges, Opportunities and Outlook
Retail - Myanmar’s Economy Fueling the Retail Boom
A Look into Myanmar's Services Sector: Education
Myanmar’s education system was once the best in the region, with its Rangoon University being the most prestigious university in Southeast Asia. But due to its previous military regime, the quality of education declined significantly and the country is now far behind regional norms.
While the country looks to resolve its unpleasant domestic situation which have attracted global attention, there are still many more systemic fixes which are key to Myanmar’s long-term stability, and reforms in education is one of the most important. Sustaining Myanmar’s political transition depends on improving its education sector.
Educating for Myanmar’s Future
According to its Ministry of Education (MoE), there were 45,387 schools catering to 8.85 million children in the 2015/2016 school year, of which about 63% were primary schools and 14% were lower secondary schools. Based on UNESCO figures, Myanmar had 322,514 teachers with a teacher to student ratio of 1:27. Data from UNESCO also highlighted that student enrollment have increased as the country embarked on its political reforms; from 87.8% in 2010 to 94.5% in 2014 at the primary level, and 45.1% in 2010 to 48.3% in 2014 at the secondary level.
Myanmar has put education at the heart of its reform agenda, and the government is supportive to make education more inclusive by encouraging instruction in more local languages. The National Education Sector Plan (NESP) has been introduced, which aims to meet the rapidly changing economy. The NESP focuses on nine key areas:
1. Preschool education,
2. Basic education including improvements in access and inclusion,
3. Curriculum,
4. Assessment,
5. Training and management of teachers,
6. Alternative education programs,
7. Technical and vocational education and training,
8. Higher education and
9. Specific sector education management.
The NESP is also set to introduce modernized learning methods prioritizing problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. Under the NESP 2016-2020 policy framework addressing the reforms for the country’s education system, the funding for education rose from US251.8 million in FY2012/2013 to US$1.2 billion in FY2016/2017. This increased in funding has been earmarked to employ more teachers and expand free education.
Currently, private schools provide pre-elementary schools, elementary, secondary, and higher-education levels courses to meet popular demand for the market in English language, computing, accounting and business-related training. Private institutions are also investing into the primary and secondary school segments which aims to meet local demand.
Challenges
Although overall student enrolment have improved, attendance in many parts of the country remains low. Majority of schools have limited access to teaching materials and supplies. There is still shortage of teachers and teaching facilities such as classrooms are overcrowded. This in addition to other shortcomings such as endemic poverty, poor health and overall lack of basic infrastructure, are probable contributing factors to high dropout rates.
At the workforce front, local and foreign companies in Myanmar have expressed that they lacked professional employees. At the same time, the country’s abundance in human capital with a diverse and young workforce is ready to take the country forward, however they lack the schools needed to train them.
Opportunities
There is a strong will to develop the sector as this is fueled by the increasing demand for human capital as Myanmar’s economy continues to grow. The market is expanding into educational services that serves affiliate programmes for foreign studies as well as educational institutions that offer basic and higher education. Demand is also fueled by Myanmar parents who are looking to invest in their children’s education to get quality education within the country.
Changes in the country’s educational policies have allowed private schools to operate in the country with minimal government supervision. Currently, there are international education providers and foreign university branches that are investing in Myanmar’s education sector. Such presence of foreign investments in international schools and vocational training programmes are boosting the country’s education system and addressing Myanmar’s skills gap.
The NESP policy framework also anticipates the need for non-formal education, helping people through alternative routes to learning and eventually to work. The government is committed to work with non-government organizations (NGOs) to offer such alternative education at all levels. This way, it will give everyone in Myanmar the opportunity to advance, even if the traditional academic route may not be appropriate for that individual.
Myanmar is looking to foreign investments to expand its network of private schools and higher education institutions specializing in alternative education pathways and vocational training. There are opportunities in capacity building, vocational and technical training in all industry sectors such as energy, forestry, mining, environmental, construction, healthcare, telecommunications, tourism, financial sector and entrepreneurialism.
Outlook
There are increasing number of collaboration between the government, international schools, educational agencies and institutions and foreign universities. This further promotes the higher education sector in Myanmar and improve the overall quality of educational services. Myanmar citizens can now enjoy more choices in education, thus improving the sociocultural sector.
Indeed the government’s reform to improve inclusivity is already underway. This will ensure that all communities have equal access to education. Education in some ways help to reduce poverty and promote peace. If the current generation are to become productive members of society, they must be culturally and ethically aware and mindful citizens.
The benefits of changes to the education system will take years to be felt. The government acknowledges that education is a crucial part in creating a more prosperous and inclusive nation, and ensuring that no child loses an opportunity to learn is one component of a multifaceted effort.
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Editor’s Note: For those who have missed out on the previous service sector(s), click below to read:
Hotels and Tourism Part I – Tourism: an Economic Generator & Infrastructure Constraints
Hotels and Tourism Part II – Opportunities, Government Support & Outlook
Banking and Finance – The Economic Driver, Challenges, Opportunities and Forecast
Telecommunications – More than Just Talk-time, Challenges, Opportunities and Outlook
Transportation – Better Transport to Boost Economic Growth, Challenges, Opportunities and Outlook
Retail – Myanmar’s Economy Fueling the Retail Boom, Challenges, Opportunities and Outlook
According to its Ministry of Education (MoE), there were 45,387 schools catering to 8.85 million children in the 2015/2016 school year, of which about 63% were primary schools and 14% were lower secondary schools. Based on UNESCO figures, Myanmar had 322,514 teachers with a teacher to student ratio of 1:27. Data from UNESCO also highlighted that student enrollment have increased as the country embarked on its political reforms; from 87.8% in 2010 to 94.5% in 2014 at the primary level, and 45.1% in 2010 to 48.3% in 2014 at the secondary level.
Myanmar has put education at the heart of its reform agenda, and the government is supportive to make education more inclusive by encouraging instruction in more local languages. The National Education Sector Plan (NESP) has been introduced, which aims to meet the rapidly changing economy. The NESP focuses on nine key areas:
1. Preschool education,
2. Basic education including improvements in access and inclusion,
3. Curriculum,
4. Assessment,
5. Training and management of teachers,
6. Alternative education programs,
7. Technical and vocational education and training,
8. Higher education and
9. Specific sector education management.
The NESP is also set to introduce modernized learning methods prioritizing problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. Under the NESP 2016-2020 policy framework addressing the reforms for the country’s education system, the funding for education rose from US251.8 million in FY2012/2013 to US$1.2 billion in FY2016/2017. This increased in funding has been earmarked to employ more teachers and expand free education.
Currently, private schools provide pre-elementary schools, elementary, secondary, and higher-education levels courses to meet popular demand for the market in English language, computing, accounting and business-related training. Private institutions are also investing into the primary and secondary school segments which aims to meet local demand.
Challenges
Although overall student enrolment have improved, attendance in many parts of the country remains low. Majority of schools have limited access to teaching materials and supplies. There is still shortage of teachers and teaching facilities such as classrooms are overcrowded. This in addition to other shortcomings such as endemic poverty, poor health and overall lack of basic infrastructure, are probable contributing factors to high dropout rates.
At the workforce front, local and foreign companies in Myanmar have expressed that they lacked professional employees. At the same time, the country’s abundance in human capital with a diverse and young workforce is ready to take the country forward, however they lack the schools needed to train them.
Opportunities
There is a strong will to develop the sector as this is fueled by the increasing demand for human capital as Myanmar’s economy continues to grow. The market is expanding into educational services that serves affiliate programmes for foreign studies as well as educational institutions that offer basic and higher education. Demand is also fueled by Myanmar parents who are looking to invest in their children’s education to get quality education within the country.
Changes in the country’s educational policies have allowed private schools to operate in the country with minimal government supervision. Currently, there are international education providers and foreign university branches that are investing in Myanmar’s education sector. Such presence of foreign investments in international schools and vocational training programmes are boosting the country’s education system and addressing Myanmar’s skills gap.
The NESP policy framework also anticipates the need for non-formal education, helping people through alternative routes to learning and eventually to work. The government is committed to work with non-government organizations (NGOs) to offer such alternative education at all levels. This way, it will give everyone in Myanmar the opportunity to advance, even if the traditional academic route may not be appropriate for that individual.
Myanmar is looking to foreign investments to expand its network of private schools and higher education institutions specializing in alternative education pathways and vocational training. There are opportunities in capacity building, vocational and technical training in all industry sectors such as energy, forestry, mining, environmental, construction, healthcare, telecommunications, tourism, financial sector and entrepreneurialism.
Outlook
There are increasing number of collaboration between the government, international schools, educational agencies and institutions and foreign universities. This further promotes the higher education sector in Myanmar and improve the overall quality of educational services. Myanmar citizens can now enjoy more choices in education, thus improving the sociocultural sector.
Indeed the government’s reform to improve inclusivity is already underway. This will ensure that all communities have equal access to education. Education in some ways help to reduce poverty and promote peace. If the current generation are to become productive members of society, they must be culturally and ethically aware and mindful citizens.
The benefits of changes to the education system will take years to be felt. The government acknowledges that education is a crucial part in creating a more prosperous and inclusive nation, and ensuring that no child loses an opportunity to learn is one component of a multifaceted effort.
----------
Editor’s Note: For those who have missed out on the previous service sector(s), click below to read:
Hotels and Tourism Part I – Tourism: an Economic Generator & Infrastructure Constraints
Hotels and Tourism Part II – Opportunities, Government Support & Outlook
Banking and Finance – The Economic Driver, Challenges, Opportunities and Forecast
Telecommunications – More than Just Talk-time, Challenges, Opportunities and Outlook
Transportation – Better Transport to Boost Economic Growth, Challenges, Opportunities and Outlook
Retail – Myanmar’s Economy Fueling the Retail Boom, Challenges, Opportunities and Outlook
