Upper House to begin discussing education law amendments soon

25 February 2015
Upper House to begin discussing education law amendments soon
Upper House to discuss amendments to the controversial National Education Law. Four-party talks between the government, students, parliamentarians and the National Network for Education Reform over the National Education Law underway at Yangon Region Parliament headquarters on February 11, 2015. Photo: Min Min/Mizzima

Upper House Speaker U Khin Aung Myint announced February 24 that discussions on the bill of amendment to the National Education Law with stakeholders will be held from March 5 to 15 at the Upper House’s conference room.
An agreement to amend the National Education Law was recently obtained following four-party talks.
Before the Upper House discusses the bill in the parliament building in Nay Pyi Taw, the Upper House bill committee will listen to the suggestions of the people and organizations concerned, including students who have been campaigning to change the controversial law.
Democracy Education Initiative Committee member Ma Phyo Phyo Aung said, “We will discuss with lawmakers all the points we would like to see amended.”
The bill committee will hold discussions with the groups separately. It will meet with 20 delegates from Democracy Education Initiative Committee, the political parties concerned, and the National Network for Education Reform on March 5, 6 and 7 respectively.
The committee will hold meetings with political parties and civil society groups, and aims to finish discussions with the advisors on the bill on March 15.
One concern of the students and the NNER is that a draft bill produced by the Education Ministry but rejected during the four-party talks was published in state-run newspapers on February 19. In response, the students and the NNER issued an open later dated February 22 addressed to the Education Ministry, condemning the government’s action.
The letter says the government action was “a violation of the agreement reached in the four-party meeting.”
In the four-party meeting held on February 16, the government agreed to submit the bill of amendment to the National Education Law to parliament.