PROFILE OF BASIC EDUCATION SYSTEM Education in the pre-colonial times was provided by the Buddhist monasteries spread throughout

the land. Boys from ages 5-6 upwards were ordained as novice monks (koyins) in these monasteries, and received religious instruction from the local Abbots and senior monks during this time. They were also taught practical knowledge such as reading, writing and elementary arithmetic and this resulted in a high level of literacy throughout the country. The monastic schools continued to survive even after Myanmar was colonized, but schools operated by the colonial government and foreign missionaries increasingly supplanted them. These schools were mostly in the cities and towns and in preference over traditional Myanmar culture. A formal education system administered by the colonial government started with the formation of a Department of Education in 1866. In 1921, a Secondary Schools Board consisting of non -governmental officials was established. This Board continued to exist after independence until it was absorbed into the Ministry of Education in 1966. During 1965-66, the government implemented a nationalization policy and all schools became publicly funded and controlled State Schools under the Ministry of Education. Instruction used the standard course curriculum prescribed by the Ministry of Education, and the medium of instruction uniformly became the Myanmar language. This situation has continued up to the present day.

STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION The Basic Education System is made up of 3 levels: primary, middle and high schools. It has a 54-2 pattern of organization with 5 years of primary school, 4 years of middle school and 2 years of high school. The academic year runs from early June to mid February and is divided into two terms of four and a half months each. PRIMARY SCHOOL The Kindergarten (Grade 1) and Standards I (Grade 2), II (Grade 3), III (Grade 4), IV (Grade 5) form the primary school. In these standards, training is given in the basic skills of reading and writing in both Myanmar and English languages. Introductory history, geography and natural science are also taught. MIDDLE SCHOOL The middle school is made up of the Standards V (Grade 6), VI (Grade 7), VII (Grade 8) and VIII (Grade 9). Subjects such as Myanmar, English, Mathematics, Geography, History and General Science are taught. HIGH SCHOOL The two years of high school are Standard IX (Grade 10) and Standard X (Grade 11). The high school program includes courses in Myanmar, English, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Geography, History and Economics. A student has to choose a combination of six subjects according to the major he or she intends to pursue in the university. Myanmar, English and Mathematics are compulsory, and the other three subjects have to be chosen from remaining subjects. For example, Biology is a compulsory subject for a student who wants to follow a medical career, and so Myanmar, English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics is one possible combination for him. The combination of Myanmar, English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and History is another alternative for him. Electives are not allowed. This program aims to prepare students for further academic and vocational training. In all the Standards except Standard X (Grade 11), individual schools determine evaluation systems and the policies used throughout the country are fairly alike. The most popular one is a system in which academic assessment is by monthly tests and a few major examinations. The grading systems employed by

most schools are also similar to those of other schools, using the system based on the national Matriculation grading system (Please see below). Standard X (Grade 11) is different. Students at the end of Standard X (Grade 11) sit for nationally administered examinations, the Matriculation Examination. These examinations are held by the Myanmar Examinations Board in March of each year and consist of three-hour written papers on the six high school subjects. In these examinations, each subject is scored on a 0 to 100 scale with the pass mark of 40 and the distinction mark of 80 (exception: Myanmar and English distinction mark is 75). Passing these examinations is all or none, i.e. the candidate has to pass all subjects or otherwise fails the examination. The results from these examinations form the basis for university admission and only those passing these examinations are eligible for university entrance.