Myanmar gives an important illustration of the critical role of diverse providers in achieving inclusive, quality education in complex and conflict-affected contexts. Myanmar’s recently-approved National Education Strategic Plan (NESP) commits to inclusive education and improved learning. However, it makes limited reference to over half a million learners in Myanmar's non-government education systems: the country-wide network of monastic schools, schools administered by the education departments of ethnic armed organisations and the many others established by communities and supported by a wide range of civil society-, ethnic-, language- and faith- based organisations. Such schools primarily reach children from minority, poor, remote, migrant, displaced and conflict- affected communities.
The paper will discuss-and present examples of- the features of complementary education that compare favorably in terms of inclusivity. with the centralized, Bamar-centric government system. Key among these is the long use of various mother-tongue based and multilingual approaches, throughout decades in which ethnic languages (of which there are over 150 in total) were banned in government schools. Others include the embedding of schools in local communities, the use of local teachers and contextualized curricula.
It will then be explored what are the critical challenges for education reform within a wider negotiation of federalism, to achieve a coherent system of diverse, effective education providers capable of assuring inclusion of all in quality learning. Key among these are a nuanced multilingual education policy, greater curriculum flexibility, effective teacher professional development systems based on realistic competences, a teacher accreditation system, capacity for decentralization and mechanisms for equivalency and pupil transfer. Advancing these within a rights-based framework will not only to strengthen inclusion and equity of opportunity but also- in so doing, reduce the grievances that fuel conflict and make a significant contribution to sustainable peace and development.
