There will be a seminar on Myanmar and education governance in The Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIED).
People who interested may pay a visit.
Myanmar’s Democratic Transition: The Role of Education Governance
byProfessor Kerry Kennedy
Director, Centre for Governance and Citizenship
Research Chair Professor of Curriculum Studies
The Hong Kong Institute of EducationDate: 22 January 2014 (Wednesday)
Time: 12:30pm to 2pm
Venue: Room B3-P-04 (Podium Floor, Block B3)
HKIEd Tai Po Campus
10 Lo Ping Road, Tai PoAbstract
With a constitution in 2008, multi-party elections in 2010 and by elections in 2011 involving Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy, Myanmar appears to be on new pathway to democracy following almost fifty years of military dictatorship. As part of this transition a Comprehensive Education Sector Review (CESR) was commissioned by the government in 2012 with the support of development partners. Its purpose was “to promote a learning society capable of facing the challenges of the Knowledge Age” and to build “a modern developed nation through education”.This seminar will explore the issue of how an education system that has served the purposes of a military dictatorship might be transformed to serve democratic purposes. The focus will be on governance issues and what education governance for democracy might mean in Myanmar and elsewhere. A comparison will be made with other ASEAN countries and a distinction will be drawn between ASEAN versions of democracy and liberal democracy. The implications of these differences for education governance will be discussed.
Myanmar’s efforts at democratization have been welcomed but the outcomes of the transition are by no means agreed. As the date of the next election is now set for 2015 and the National League for democracy has indicated its intention to participate, it is a timely opportunity to evaluate progress.
Speaker
Professor Kerry J Kennedy is Research Chair Professor of Curriculum Studies and Director of the Centre for Governance and Citizenship at HKIEd. He has been a consultant to UNESCO providing advice on the development of new education legislation for Myanmar as part of the Comprehensive Sector Education Review. In November 2013 he gave a presentation in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, on legislative reform proposals.
Please email cgc@ied.edu.hk for registration and seats reservation.