Education in Myanmar
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The educational system of Myanmar (also known as Burma) is operated by the Ministry of Education. Universities and professional institutes from Upper Burma and Lower Burma are run by two separate entities, each called the Department of Higher Education, with their headquarters in Yangon and Mandalay, respectively. The modern education system is based on the system implemented during British rule in Burma. The first government-run high school was founded by the British colonial administration in 1874. Two years later, this Government High School was upgraded as University College, Rangoon.[4] Nearly all schools are government-operated, but recently, there has been an increase in privately funded schools (which specialise in English). In Myanmar, schooling is compulsory until the end of elementary school, about nine to ten years old. However, the international standard for schooling is 15 to 16 years old.
| Ministry of Education | |
|---|---|
| Union Minister | Chaw Chaw Sein |
| National education budget (2014-15) | |
| Budget | ~US$1152 million[1] |
| General details | |
| Primary languages | Burmese, English |
| System type | National |
| Established | 1910 |
| Literacy (2014) | |
| Total | 89.5%[2] |
| Male | 92.6%[2] |
| Female | 86.9%[2] |
| Enrollment (2014) | |
| Total | 17,606,223[3] |
| Primary | 4,766,806[3] |
| Secondary | 6,194,851[3] |
| Post secondary | 4,831,624[3] |
The literacy rate of Myanmar, according to the 2014 Myanmar Census stands at 89.5% (males: 92.6%, females: 86.9%).[2] The annual budget allocated to education by the government is low; only about 1.2% is spent per year on education. English is taught as a second language from kindergarten. As of 2026, Myanmar's enrollment rate has dropped significantly, with only about half of school-age children attending school.[5] With inflation and internal conflict, over 6 million children are not in school.[6]
In pre-colonial Burma, the Sangha was the primary educational institution, was a widespread system of decentralised and local monastic schools, supported economically by local residents and politically by the king.[7] Beginning in the mid-nineteenth century, there were also mission schools established by Catholic and Protestant orders, particularly in highland areas.
Most of the early British mission schools were established after 1860 (such as La Salle schools) in Myanmar were nationalised on 1 April 1965 after the order restoration of general Ne Win.[8][9]
The Human Rights Measurement Initiative (HRMI)[10] finds that Myanmar is fulfilling only 84.3% of what it should be fulfilling for the right to education based on the country's level of income.[11] HRMI breaks down the right to education by looking at the rights to both primary education and secondary education. While taking into consideration Myanmar's income level, the nation is achieving 96.7% of what should be possible based on its resources (income) for primary education but only 71.9% for secondary education.[11]
History
Pre-colonial era
In pre-colonial Burma, the Sangha was the primary educational institution. The Burmese word for school, kyaung, is synonymous with the word for monastery from this connection. In dynastic Burma, one of the main Buddhist obligations of the king was to provide welfare to the people. The schools were independent from the government, often supported by local donations to the monastery. The state, however, had a vital interest in its development as the presence of monks providing educational welfare provided important political legitimacy.[7] Boys were educated part-time or full time as novices within the monastic system, focused mostly on religious scripture- which led girls to be educated at home, gaining basic literacy skills and other home or marketplace skills.[12]
British colonial rule
When the British conquered Burma, they encountered this extensive system but dismissed it as inadequate and unsuitable for the modern era.[13] During colonial rule, the British sought to create secular education, tremendously increasing educational access for women. The number of female students enrolled in school rose 61% (by 45,000 students) from 1911 to 1921, and another 82% (100,000 students) from 1921 to 1931 with expansion of the colonial and private education system, primarily in the form of all-girls schools.[14] This was mirrored by an increase in female employment. From 1921 to 1931, there was a 33% increase in employment of women in public administration, law, medicine (96% increase), education (64% increase), and journalism sectors.[14] Missionaries also started schools with used the Karen and other languages as the mode of instruction.[15]
Post-independence era
When Burma gained independence on 4 January 1948, the government sought to create a literate and educated population, and Burma was believed to be on its way to become the first Asian Tiger in the region. However, 1962 coup d'état isolated and impoverished Burma. All schools were nationalised, and placed under the control of the Ministry of Education which replaced ethnic schools teachers with Burmese speaking teachers.[15] As a result many of the Karen, Kachin, Shan, and other minority language schools began to fail. Burmese also replaced English as the medium of instruction at Burmese universities in 1965, with the passing of the New University Education Law a year earlier.[16] This led to a rapid decline in English proficiency among the Burmese.[16] English was reintroduced as a medium of instruction in 1982.[16] In 1977, the two year regional college system was introduced by the Burmese government, as a way to disperse college students until they were about to graduate (the third and fourth years were spent at a traditional university), a system that was ended in 1981.[16]
Due to the student protests of the 8888 Uprising, all universities were closed in Burma for 2 years. During the 1990s, the newly introduced structure perpetuated a weak education system as the government's response to the crises was to introduce one 6-month term for each academic year. The SPDC government arranged irregular commencement dates for universities and colleges, but, students were still participated in clashes with the government. Another series of student strikes in 1996 and 1998 resulted in a further three years of closure.
After the re-opening of universities and colleges in 1999, the government scattered universities in different regions. The relocation of certain universities were made under relative ministries. The new system reduced university degrees by one year, providing a bachelor's degree for just three-year course. However, improvements were rapidly made despite the early disturbances. In 2005, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially announced that Burmese education was reaching international standards and the government had fully accredited 156 universities and colleges in Myanmar.
Back then, Myanmar lagged far behind in terms of educational standards. Learn-by-rote education, poorly trained teachers, bribery, as well as use of out-dated resources had been the trademarks of primary and secondary schools of Myanmar. Furthermore, students were obliged to follow onerous after-school tuition, mostly because learning at school was not considered enough. Students learnt everything by heart, from answers of English grammar questions to essays. Sometimes, all questions asked in tests were given in advance. Exceptionally, some Standard 4, Standard 8 and Standard 10 test answers were unseen unless the test papers are stolen. Many universities had been built and scattered throughout cities to prevent students participation in potential unrest.
Besides these actions, students attending these universities were not allowed to speak freely, to write freely or to publish freely.
Post-coup era
Following the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état, military junta policies targeting participants in the civil disobedience movement (CDM) have crippled healthcare and education.[17] Qualified teachers and doctors have been dismissed or detained, with underqualified replacements filling gaps.[17] Efforts by resistance groups to provide parallel education are hampered by military bombings and infrastructure issues.[17]
Uniform
School uniforms are mandatory throughout public schools in Burma, from kindergarten until the 12th Grade[18] The current uniform rule, known as the "White and Green" by colours, was mandated on 14 February 1966.[19] From kindergarten to the 5th Grade, the compulsory uniform for boys is a white shirt and green pants, which can be short or long. Shoes or Burmese sandals may be worn. The uniform for girls is similar, consisting of a white blouse and a skirt or pants. From the 5th standard until matriculation, traditional Burmese attire is considered appropriate school uniform. The uniform for boys is a white shirt (with an English collar or a mandarin collar) and a green sarong called a pahso, along with Burmese sandals. For girls, a traditional Burmese blouse (either the yinzi, with a front opening, or the yin hpon, with a side opening) and a green sarong called a htamein are worn, along with Burmese sandals.
School teachers also have to wear the same traditional attire as the students.
Nowadays, private and international schools usually use their own colours for their uniforms. The most widely used one is a white shirt with the school logo, and navy blue pants or a skirt.
Old Curriculum (1948-2022)
| Level/Standard | Typical age |
|---|---|
| Preschool | |
| Pre-kindergarten | 4–5 |
| Primary school | |
| Kindergarten | 5–6 |
| Standard 1 | 6–7 |
| Standard 2 | 7–8 |
| Standard 3 | 8–9 |
| Standard 4 | 9–10 |
| Middle school | |
| Standard 5 | 10–11 |
| Standard 6 | 11–12 |
| Standard 7 | 12–13 |
| Standard 8 | 13–14 |
| High school | |
| Standard 9 | 14–15 |
| Standard 10 | 15–16 |
| Post-secondary education | |
University
|
Ages vary
|
| Vocational education | Ages vary |
| Adult education | |
Preschool and kindergarten
Preschools were opened for children over 2 years of age and they are in extensive care or public systems. Kindergarten started from the age of 5 (not younger than 4 years and 8 months at the time of school's commencement date). Primary, Lower Secondary and Upper Secondary Schools in Burma were under the Department of Basic Education. The official commencement date for those schools is the first weekday of June.
Primary education
Primary education was officially compulsory. It lasted five years, and to continue onto secondary school, students needed to pass a comprehensive examination on basic subjects.
Secondary education
Secondary schools were usually combined, containing both middle and high schools. Big schools usually had separate buildings for each level of education, while smaller ones usually combined them into one building. Secondary Middle schools offered classes from Standard 5 to Standard 8 whereas Secondary High school offered classes up to Standard 10. Children of rich and well-known families were often given easier access to the more prestigious secondary schools. There was much corruption in educational equality, but in both primary and secondary schools, the system was almost "no-failure education system". Only at the end of the high schools or at the entrance of the college/university was the system changed because of University Entrance Exam.
High schools students chose one of 7 tracks, most of the time only one of three, upon entering high school, multiple combinations of three additional elective subjects. All high school students took Burmese, English, and mathematics. However, Science-specialised students also took 3 additional subjects: chemistry, physics, and based on their track, biology, economics, geography, or history as part of their coursework, while arts-specialised students took geography, history, and based on their track, economics, biology, and chemistry. These routes also determined what matriculation subject exams they are administered and what tertiary schools they can apply to.
At the end of Standard 12, students took the University Entrance Examination, commonly referred to as the matriculation exam in English, administered by the Board of Examinations annually in mid-March.[20] High marks in a subject garnered a distinction known as gondu (ဂုဏ်ထူး). Students who achieved distinctions in four or more subjects (or a combined total of approximately /600) were generally guaranteed placement in one of Myanmar's medical universities and senior engineering universities, the most selective of universities in Myanmar. Test score results were released at testing sites throughout the country in June.[21] Since 2007, Mon State has had the highest matriculation pass rates in the country.[22]
Students who attended international English-language schools or other private schools were, and still are, typically not eligible to sit for the matriculation exam, nor were they allowed to enroll in Burmese universities.[23] Instead, they typically studied overseas, at destinations such as Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, United Kingdom and the United States. In 2010, 695 Burmese international students studied in the United States, particularly in private liberal arts colleges.[24]
Tertiary education
Higher education in Myanmar has experienced a large expansion since 1988, although the country ranks as one of the lowest globally for universities. Due to the student protests in the 8888 uprising, the Myanmar government closed down all universities for two years. Additional student protests in 1996 and 1998 caused all universities to be closed for another three years.[25]
The Ministry of Education administers most higher education in Myanmar. The Ministry of Education implements short and long term education development plans to improve the quality, access, and diversity of higher education. The government envisions higher education as an avenue for empowering people to make educated decisions and capitalize on economic opportunities within Myanmar, and therefore, foresees investment in education as a fruitful investment for the people of Myanmar.[26]
New Curriculum (2023-)
| Level/Standard | Typical age |
|---|---|
| Preschool | |
| Preschool | 4–5 |
| Primary school | |
| Kindergarten | 5–6 |
| Grade 1 | 6–7 |
| Grade 2 | 7–8 |
| Grade 3 | 8–9 |
| Grade 4 | 9–10 |
| Grade 5 | 10–11 |
| Middle school | |
| Grade 6 | 11–12 |
| Grade 7 | 12–13 |
| Grade 8 | 13–14 |
| Grade 9 | 14–15 |
| High school | |
| Grade 10 | 15–16 |
| Grade 11 | 16–17 |
| Grade 12 | 17–18 |
| Post-secondary education | |
University
|
Ages vary
|
| Vocational education | Ages vary |
| Adult education | |
Primary, Middle, and High Schools in Myanmar are under the Department of Basic Education. The official commencement date for those schools is the first weekday of June.
Previously, schools were based on rote memorisation, but now, education is based on the 5 C's in education: Critical thinking, Creativity and Innovation, Communication, Collaboration, and Citizenship. Non examined subjects are based on this formative assessment layout.[27]
Each education level is separated into Upper and Lower for division of difficulty. Lower levels have these grades for grading performance in subjects on report cards:
- A
- S
- E,
and are graded with formative assessment. In Upper levels, examined subjects are graded in
- A - Very good (80-100
- B - Good (60-79)
- C - Average (40-59)
- D - Needs to improve (<40, failing grade)
These are graded with summative assessment. Non examined subjects are still graded with A, S, and E.
To complete a level of education, students will have to go to another school to sit through their respective education level's Completion Examinations. Sometimes, the students will sit at their own school, or even at a prestigious university to take the exams.
In some areas of the country, the student may also learn their own Local Curriculum subject, with it being taught in the region's main language. Just like the Bamar learning Burmese at school, the students also have to learn their regional language.
Prior to the 2026-27 academic year, teachers in grades 1-12 would add marks to a student who failed their school finals to make them pass, but in the 2026-27 academic year onwards, Grade 5, 9, 11, and 12 teachers will not have the permission to do so and will fail the student as long as a student has a grade below 40 in a subject in any of the said grades. [28]
Preschool and Kindergarten
Preschools are opened for children 4 years of age and they are in extensive care or public systems. When a student turns 5, they leave the school and wait
Kindergarten children are usually over the age of 5 by the time the academic year starts. Kindergarten in Myanmar is usually part of Primary school.
Primary Education
After graduating kindergarten, students enter Grade 1. Starting from there, they learn ten subjects: Burmese, English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies (a mix of Geography, Economics, and History), Morality and Civics, Life Skills, Visual Arts, Performing Arts (music and dance), and P.E., all taught in the mother tongue, Burmese. Primary school education is further divided into Lower (KG-G3) and Upper Primary school (G4-G5). This division is only for the sake of difficulty in the subjects taught, and not for the schools themselves.
Lower primary school usually focuses on easy, fun, and relatable education, whereas Upper primary school is a more of a transition stage between Primary school and Middle school, with much more complex topics, mostly in Maths, Science, Social Studies, Life Skills, Visual Arts, and Performing Arts.
Of the ten subjects, only half have examinations, Burmese, English, Maths, Science, and Social Studies. Sometimes, a subject's exam paper may have two parts, Part (A) and (B). Almost always is it Maths and Social Studies. Exams are quarterly, with exams in July, October (mid terms), December, and February (finals). Schools usually either have a subject a day, or two subjects a day, with either Maths or Social Studies getting their own day. Sometimes, a school may choose to start the exams on a Thursday to ensure 2 days of rest before taking the Maths exam. Quarterly exams are usually a 25-mark exam
To attend middle school, one must pass their Grade 5 school finals, and also the Primary School Completion Examinations, one subject per day, 5 days, annually in late February. The exam is a 100-mark exam lasting an hour and 30 minutes. Each district has different exam papers.
Upper Education
Middle school
After graduating Primary school, a student needs to attend Middle school. Previously, middle school had one mandatory track, but starting from the 2026-2027 academic year onwards, students may choose to learn the original track or one of the new Industrial-Agriculture-Livestock Breeding tracks (စက်စိုက်မွေး). They can choose between either Basic Industrial Education, Agricultural Education, or Livestock Education.
In the original track, students learn 11 subjects, Burmese, English, Math. 1 (algebra, arithmetic, etc), Math 2 (geometry), Geography, History, and Science. The IAL students learn their respective field subject alongside the main seven subjects. In exams, Math 1 and Math 2 are usually examined in the same day. They also start to get 6 day exams. There are also Lower (G6-G7), and Upper (G8-G9) Middle Education. Quarterly exams are usually 50-mark exams.
To attend high school, they must finish and pass the school finals of 9th Grade, as well as sit and pass in the Middle School Completion Examinations. annually tested alongside the Primary School Completion Examinations. The exam takes 6 days, one subject per day. Each exam is a 100 mark exam lasting 2 hours. Each region and state has different exam papers.
High school
After graduating Grade 9, students are free to choose one of three types of high schools, normal government high schools, Vocational High Schools (စက်၊ စိုက်၊ မွေး အထက်တန်းကျောင်း) and Government Technological High Schools (GTHS).
Normal high students choose one of 4 tracks upon entering high school, the most widely chosen being the two science tracks. All high school students across every type of school take Burmese, English, and mathematics, however, Science-specialised students also take 3 additional subjects: chemistry, physics, and based on their track, biology or economics as part of their coursework, while arts-specialised students take geography, history and economics. Another arts track is Burmese, English, Mathematics, Economics, Optional Burmese, Social Science (Geography and History), and Science (Chemistry, Physics, Biology), but this track is rarely chosen. These routes also determine what matriculation subject exams they are administered and what universities they can apply to. The four tracks have a general subject for the opposite track, Science for the arts tracks, and Social Science for the science tracks in but the subjects are not examined and deemed unnecessary by the wide public. Morality and Civics, Life Skills, Visual Arts, Performing Arts, and P.E. are also taught in Grade 10 and 11 (Lower High School), but in Grade 12 (Upper High School), they are not taught.
To attend universities, they must first attend and pass their school finals in Grade 12, and then sit through and pass the University Entrance Examination held annually in mid March. The exam is a high stakes 100-mark exam lasting three hours for each exam. The whole country has the same exam papers. High marks in a subject garner a distinction known as gondu (ဂုဏ်ထူး). Students who achieve distinctions in four or more subjects (or a combined total of approximately 480/600) are generally guaranteed placement in one of Myanmar's medical universities and senior engineering universities, the most selective of universities in Myanmar. Test score results are released at testing sites throughout the country in mid June. In the 2025-2026 Academic Year's matriculation, the pass rate was 52.37% with West Bago Region getting the highest pass rate of 59.6% and Chin State getting the lowest with 19.1% in the whole country. Outside of Myanmar, the foreign pass rate was 87.5%. The top 1 student in the Biology Science track in the entirety of Burma was a girl from Mandalay who got 562 marks out of 600.
Vocational Schools and Government Technological High Schools
Vocational Schools teach Industrial work, Agriculture, and Livestock breeding. The Industrial track is further divided into Civil and Equipment Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical engineering. Every field learns Burmese, with subjects that correlate to what they should learn in the field. The Industrial field is the only field that teaches English and Maths. They also get their own matriculation exams, with the pass rate for the 2025-2026 academic year being 49.7%, with Shan State getting the highest pass rate with 66.17% and Kayah State having the lowest with 30.77%.
Government Technological High Schools teach various fields of Industrial work, such as electrical engineering, refrigeration technology, and much more.
Students of these schools get a monthly stipend of 10,000 MMK (approximately US$2.14 – US$4.75).
Tertiary Education
Universities and colleges
When a student passes both the Grade 12 and matriculation exam, they can attend either a generalist or specialized university. Based on their marks and amount of distinctions, they can choose their majors in these universities. Generalist universities can accept any student regardless of their marks and distinctions, but specialized universities are much more strict when you choose undergraduate majors. To attend one of the engineering or medical universities, you typically need at least five to six distinctions or 480+ marks to even attend the university. Every year, the majors redefine the mark boundary where a student can attend the major. Medical and technological universities usually have their mark boundaries at around 500 marks. Prestigious specialized universities usually only allow ten postgraduates a year, give or take. Students may also choose to get a diploma.
If a student passes the Grade 12 exam but not the matriculation exam, they will need to study at home or with a tutor to take the next matriculation exam.
Private education
In the early 2000s, civil society and private classes attempted to fill in the inadequacies of the public school system. In 2011, during the 2011-2015 reforms, private schools were legalised, with 46 private schools establishing themselves over the decade in Yangon, Mandalay and Pyin Oo Lwin.[29]
Today, private and international schools are one of the only opportunities for students to study abroad and get high paying jobs.
