The qualified human resources of the knowledge age (Part II)

(Continued from 24-08-2001)

The government is providing the most basic requirements for the progress of the
national economy. In so doing, it is striving to extend the land reclamation
projects, to develop the agricultural techniques, and to build new roads,
bridges and irrigation facilities one after another. At the same time, it is
implementing programmes in the education field to cultivate and nurture
children to become highly qualified human resources and labour force.

Concerning the requirement to bring out human resources, Head of State Senior
General Than Shwe gave the following guidance in his address delivered at the
conclusion ceremony of the Course No 1 on the Myanmar and International Studies
of the Union Solidarity and Development Association.

The Senior General said "The world today is experiencing rapid changes and
developments. It is required to possess the ability to make preparatory
calculations and estimations to realize the aims in accord with the changing
situations. Regarding the ability, there are two parts, which are, the existing
strength of the nation and the new strength to be built. In addition to the
existing natural and human resources strength of the nation, a highly
intelligent human resources capable of facing the changing and developing
conditions must be built."

 In line with the guidance, the government is striving from all sectors for the
nation to develop and get abreast with the world nations; in this manner, the
government has been systematically laying down and implementing the education
reform programmes in order to nurture and turn out the self-made national
forces. The science and technologies are changing and developing in a high
velocity on today's international front.

These rapid and powerful changes and developments have caused the widening of
the technological gap between the rich and poor countries of the world leading
to heightening and deepening the problem of inequality in sharing the fruits of
progress between the rich and the poor. In this situation, all the global
nations are racing one another in laying down and implementing the education
development programmes to timely acquire the scientific and technological
developments with a view to utilizing them for national interests.

Chairman of the Myanmar Education Committee Secretary-1 of the State Peace and
Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt explained the inter-dependence between
the national progress and the education sector in his address delivered at the
opening ceremony of the Special Refresher Course No 45 for Basic Education
Teachers which was held at the Central Institute of Civil Service in Phaunggyi,
Hlegu Township, Yangon Division, on 6 August 2001.

Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt said "The advances in science and technology
accelerate the globalization process and are also a key factor that affects the
progress of the education sector. Under these circumstances, it is very
important to lay down plans in the education sector with the national awareness
and with the aim of firmly steering the State on the correct trend of national
interests."

He then said "In accord with the guidance of the Head of State, the government
is gradually raising the acceleration in laying down and implementing the
education promotion programmes and the national education promotion plans phase
by phase with the objective of producing brilliant human resources who, making
the best use of the rapidly changing knowledge and technology, can face
challenges at present, and in the future."

 The Secretary-1 kept on saying "At the present age, various fields of studies
have been changing and developing and the education has been dominating every
sector. The task of creating a constant learning society for students, which is
not only for their school life, but also for their entire life, is becoming the
main objective of the education field in the age of knowledge.

That is why the education promotion programmes are being implemented
systematically to gradually nurture and develop the students from the primary
level to the university level with the aim of uplifting the constant learning
abilities of the students and creating the environs and the opportunities for
the students to acquire education ." The education promotion programmes in the
basic education sector were implemented beginning 1998-99 academic year and
success has been achieved. Special Four-Year National Education Promotion
Programme and long-termm education plans to implement the basic education and
higher education sectors are being laid down harmoniously.

(To be continued)

Author : Kaung Myat