Background
The MDE/ UNESCO/ UNDP Education sector Study (1992) has pointed out that for the most part, Myanmar’s education system lacks the capacity and flexibility to respond effectively to the evolving pattern of labour demand and to instil the knowledge, skills and attitudes required in a modernizing, economy. The Ministry of Education has responded by initiating the Human Resource Development Programme.
This Human Resource Development Programme represents a more flexible and varied form of post-school education and training which makes optimal use of existing resources. The National Centre for Human Resource Development (NCHRD) based at the Department of Higher Education was established by the Ministry of Education. These centres offer a wide variety of options in the form of certificate, diploma or degree courses in such diverse fields as foreign language studies, computer science, computer engineering, accounting studies, business management, environmental studies, multi-media arts, gemmology, cosmetic technology and teaching. These are income generating courses which enable the universities, institutes, degree colleges and colleges to provide subsidiary remuneration for their staff. These courses are in addition to the regular courses at these institutions. This arrangement is often referred to as ” the one campus-two system” arrangement. These CHRD courses offer more options and consequently more career choices for the young people of Myanmar.
Viewing education as a lifelong learning process, the Centre for Human Resource Development (CHRDs) at the various universities, institutes, degree colleges and colleges with the following as the main aims:
- to establish a parallel education system which will complement the formal system in producing the number of skilled technicians and intellectuals required by the country;
- to prevent education wastage by enabling those who have not completed their higher education to do so at their own pace and during their free time;
- to widen the scope of choices, and to increase education, re-education, training and re-training.The number of certificate and diploma courses offered by the various centres now total 65. Recognizing that foreign languages are better learned when young, English which is now regarded as a world language necessary for international interaction and co-operation, is being taught from a young age. Up to the present, 15,705 persons have completed the courses with their ages ranging from 8 to 70.