Sagaing Students Protest Controversial Education Bill

Originally appeared in Democratic Voice of Burma

September 2, 2014

Burmese university students stood their ground and protested on Monday against the controversial draft of the National Education Bill, which was approved by the Union Parliament on 30 July.

More than 30 students from the Sagaing Art and Science University, Technical University and Cooperative University participated in the rally, which was allowed to proceed without intervention by local authorities.

Protest over the bill is widespread, throughout universities in Rangoon and Mandalay among other cities. On 29 August, students from Monywa protested against the Bill.

Since its approval by parliament more than one month ago, the National Education Bill has met with firm opposition and protests from students unions, the university teachers union and the National Network for Education Reform, all of whom have referred to the mandate as “centralized” and “ambiguous”.

“The National Educational Bill is incapable of producing modern, educated people – rather it indoctrinates a system of slavery,” said student leader Min Htet Soe.

Student leaders in different fields of education have stated that the National Education Bill severely curbs students’ rights. Demonstrations have been staged across the country ever since the bill has been introduced to “dismiss its unjust rules.”

The bill which was introduced in the parliament, earlier in March 2014, has been criticised for allegedly subjecting the education system in Burma to strict government control.

View the original article here.