RISE is pleased to share our Issues Paper on Teacher Compensation for Non-Government Teachers. RISE_NonGov_Teacher_Compensation_Paper_210220
Significant progress is being made to meet the Myanmar government’s ambition to leave no child behind. As the government reviews its progress in the first phase of the Myanmar National Education Strategic Plan (NESP) 2016 – 2021, there are visible signs of progress and the quality agenda is certainly on the map. Yet hidden from the preview of most spectators, Indigenous provision; the backbone of education services in rural, remote and conflict affected areas of Myanmar is struggling to pay its teachers a basic wage. Despite the generous commitment by development partners to the Indigenous education sector, a financial model and long-term plan that ensures no one donor or development partner is left responsible to pay Indigenous teacher salaries on their own, does not exist with any sophistication. It is imperative that steps are taken during this Interim period to ensure Indigenous teachers receive a basic salary when the delicate process of forming a partnership with the Ministry of Education (MOE) and Indigenous providers of education is just beginning to be establish.
In recent years, the interest and investment by Development Partners in the capacity development of Indigenous providers of education has increased and diversified. This is helping to strengthen the quality of their education services and their capacity to meaningfully engage with the MOE on issues pertinent to Indigenous children’s education rights, including the recognition of Indigenous education systems, non-government teacher accreditation, the recognition of children’s learning and government transfer systems and mother tongue language in education policy. While Indigenous providers of education are certainly committed to system strengthening and increased policy engagement with the MOE, the annual pressure to focus on fundraising for teacher stipends compromises and undermines these efforts.
It is within this context, that this Issues Paper on non-government teacher compensation is presented. It is hoped that a solution for this Interim period will pave way for a more sustained and equitable financial model with the Myanmar government in the future.
To continue reading, you download the paper here:
RISE_NonGov_Teacher_Compensation_Paper_210220