INEE Minimum Standards for Education introduced in Myanmar

©Ministry of Education, Myanmar

Presentation made by group representatives (©UNESCO/Su Ei Nandar)

Deputy Director-General of DEPT delivering an opening (©UNESCO/Su Ei Nandar)

Participants working in groups (©UNESCO/Shwe Su Hlaing)

UNESCO Myanmar and the Ministry of Education jointly organized a workshop on the Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE) Minimum Standards for Education (MSE) in Yangon recently. A total of thirty-six participants from the Ministry of Education, UN agencies, INGOs and NGOs attended this workshop.

The workshop was conducted to introduce the INEE MSE, which can be adapted and used as guidance in emergency preparedness, response and recovery, and also to raise awareness that education is part of the emergency response.

In his opening speech, U Tun Hla, the Advisor and Deputy-Director General of Department of Educational Planning and Training (DEPT), said, “The impact of natural disasters are observed to be much more severe among communities who have limited knowledge of disaster risk reduction (DRR). As education plays a crucial role in enhancing knowledge and practice in DRR, I believe that the ‘Minimum Standards for Education: Preparedness, Response Recovery’ will be used as guidance for education stakeholders who are addressing the needs in the education sector.” He encouraged the participants to raise awareness on DRR and apply the Minimum Standards for Education in their community and work place.

During the workshop, participants contextualized the Minimum Standards for their local context, applied the standards in education problem-solving, and formulated draft education contingency plans. For many, this workshop served as an introduction to INEE and the Minimum Standards. “I have learned many, many things such as what are the Minimum Standards, why they are so important, and how we can use this knowledge in the field of education.” remarked Daw Kyu Kyu Shwe of Department of Basic Education No. (3). 

At the end of the workshop, the participants showed their appreciation of the INEE MSE handbook and made commitments to apply the MSE in their work. 

Daw Khin Myoe Myint Kyu of Department of Myanmar Education Research Bureau (DMERB), also commented, “The many exercises made it very interesting. We all learned about the INEE Minimum Standards and how education can be a key factor in rehabilitating communities after disaster.” 

Daw Su Su Tin of DMERB said that “Although I’ve attended many other workshops on DRR before, this workshop is positively different from the others. Its output is totally measurable and I’m aware of the MSE that are adaptable to our local context.” 

UNESCO under its Education for Disaster risk Reduction and Preparedness Programme will further promote the INEE MSE and raise awareness in Myanmar using the “Minimum Standards for Education: Preparedness, Response, Recovery”, which was translated into Myanmar Language and published recently.