Myanmar government promises education reforms

Yangon, November 20: Authorities in Myanmar have assured protesting students of carrying out education reforms step by step, asking them to stay tolerant, official sources said Wednesday. More than 400 students took to the streets for three days around last weekend in downtown Yangon to protest the National Education Law passed by the parliament in October, making six demands.

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Minister of Education Daw Khin San Yi said that the students' six demands were overboard, but invited the students to hold a dialogue with people who drafted the law and pledged to report the demands of the students to the legislative body, according to Xinhua.

The minister said that bylaws of the national education law are also being drafted to guarantee the formation of student unions, academic freedom and autonomy of universities and institutes which are also included in the students' demands. However, their other demands would need more discussion, she added. The students ended their protest Monday sending an ultimatum to the government to hold a dialogue with them on amending the already approved national education law within 60 days and warning of staging a nationwide protest against the law if their demands were not met.

IANS