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President pledges to increase education budget
Published on Saturday, 26 January 2013 19:51
President Thein Sein has pledge a bigger budget for education aimed at poverty reduction, rural development and economic enhancement.
The statement was made at the Presidential Palace upon receiving an honorary doctorate degree from in Technology Management by Bansomdejchaopraya Rajabhat University (BSRU) at the Presidential Palace.
“New plans are under way for increasing the education budget with effect from coming fiscal year for the purpose of poverty reduction, development of rural areas and development of the state economy,” Thein Sein said.
According the reports, the budget for education sector in 2012-2013 fiscal year was drafted to double that of last year.
President, who regarded the honorary degree as recognition for the efforts he and the government have made regarding the democratic transformation and the development of the State. He also highlighted the current reforms during his speech in the acceptance ceremony of honorary degree.
He said, “Our government has been reforming the higher education sector, and has been carrying out the tasks of education promotion for the practical utilization of vocational subjects. At the same time student centered approach has been introduced for the reform of basic education sector through negotiations with those involved in basic education.”
He added that private schools are now allowed to open as a bid to induce their contributions in national education. “In promoting the participation of the private sector in education, we have encouraged the opening of many private schools by enacting the necessary law. We are striving for all children to complete primary education,” he said.
However, there are some criticisms towards the President’s concluding speech where he called “international support for the development of the education sector in Myanmar”.