Good Morning Mr President, Madam Director General, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,
On
behalf of the Government and the people of Myanmar, I would like to
congratulate Excellency Mr. Altay Cengizer for being elected as
President of the 40th Session of the UNESCO General Conference.
In
Myanmar, the Ministry of Education has been implementing the National
Education Strategic Plan – NESP (2016-2021) and the Myanmar Sustainable
Development Plan – MSDP (2018-2030). To ensure success, our Government
has increased the government expenditure on education every year.
In
order to increase equitable and non-discriminatory access to quality
education, significantly reduce drop-out rates and improve completion
rates of Basic Education, the Ministry has carried out the free basic
education programs and provided free textbooks.
One
of the prominent educational reforms is that the basic education system
has been transformed to a new KG+12 programme. Developing the new
curriculums equipped with the 21st century skills will complete for all
Grades in 2022.
From
2016 to 2019, new schools were opened and new school buildings
constructed. As a result, the number of students at all levels increases
every year.
The
Ministry has also implemented the education recommendations put forward
by the late H.E. Kofi Annans in the final report of the Advisory
Commission on Rakhine State. We would like to take this opportunity to
pay tribute to the late H.E. Kofi Annans and thank the Advisory
Commission.
The
Ministry pays attention to children in disadvantaged and marginalized
areas as well as promotes inclusive education. Non-formal education and
adult literacy programmes are carried out throughout the year.
It
encourages Ethnic Languages, and 54 languages are taught in respective
schools. It continuously expands the quality of TVET by offering
competency-based short modular courses to meet the local labour market
needs.
The
Ministry has been implementing a higher education reform process which
encourages research and innovation. The Ministry is going to upgrade the
2-year education colleges to the 4-year education degree colleges. It
is planning to update the higher education curriculums, pedagogies and
offer new programmes, focusing on local needs. Members of Teachers’
Union and Students’ Unions are cooperating with the universities for
quality learning.
The
Rectors’ committee, which was organized in April 2018, is working
together with the Ministry to build capacity of our universities. In the
Culture sector, Bagan, our unique cultural landscape with ancient
monuments, was inscribed in the World Heritage list in the 43rd World
Heritage Committee meeting in July, 2019. At this point, please allow me
to take the opportunity to thank UNESCO and the World Heritage
Committee for their support. We would also like to express our
appreciation to UNESCO for the technical support to the development of
News Media Law (2014), Broadcasting Law (2015), National Heritage Law
(2019), EMIS, STEM, IQA, International Hydrological Programme and other
projects.
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen,
The
Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar has presented its
candidature for the first time to the Executive Board of UNESCO,
representing the group of ASEAN and Pacific States for the term of
2019-2023. The candidature of Myanmar to the Executive Board reaffirms
our commitment to ensure Quality Education of SDG4 and join hands with
the ongoing efforts of its Executive Board and steering the organization
work for quality learning.
In
conclusion, the demand for high-level knowledge, skills, attitudes and
values will grow in the 21st Century. So the Ministry of Education is
strengthening the existing education system and improving the learning
outcomes for all to enable them to face the challenges for the better
future. We are also determined to cooperate regionally and
internationally for peace, stability and sustainable development of the
World. Thank you very much.
No comments:
Post a Comment