Parents welcome end of school fees
The first day at school is often a day of high emotion. After a long and happy holiday, many students may have been dreading the approach of June 1. But for many parents, too, yesterday was quite a learning experience: They found they did not have to spend any money.
For the first time, free education has been extended to the high school students this year, bringing free tuition to more than 40,000 schools around the country.
As part of its plan to keep children in school for longer, the Ministry of Education introduced free primary education in 2011-12, providing text- books, six exercise books and K1000 to each primary student. Free middle-school education began last year, and from this year, high school education is free of charge.
“The Ministry of Education intends there to be no difficulties for teachers, students and parents in student enrolment in basic education schools. This year, school uniforms are provided to each primary student instead the K1000 we provided last year. The ministry plans to provide school uniforms for middle- and high-school students this year,” said a director in the ministry.
Parents no longer have to pay fees for stationery, sports, the library, or parent-teacher organisations, as well as tuition fees.
“I didn’t pay any fees to enrol my child in kindergarten this year, and they gave me six exercise books and a school uniform. Last year, I had to pay fees when enrolling my older children, plus some more for a ‘donation’. I think free education is great,” said Daw Myat Sanda, a parent from Tarmwe township who enrolled her children on May 25.
“I didn’t pay school fees in enrolling Grades 10 and 11 and everything went fine. Tuition fees were really expensive [before] – it’s so good to not have to pay. It’s about time they adopted a free education system,” said Daw Swe Swe Thein of Latha township.
“The year has started well,” said one headmistress in a Bahan school. “The children all attended class, and the teachers are ready for the next year.”
The results of the 2014 census released on May 29 show that about 80 percent of Myanmar 10-year-olds attend school – a number considerably higher than previous estimates – but this falls to just over 40pc by the age of 15.
The national literacy rate compares well with the wider region, at 89.5pc of the population, below the rate of 93.5pc in Thailand but well above 62.8pc in India.
(Quote from Myanmar times online website on 2 June 2015)