Open and distance education in myanmar

1. Introduction

Myanmar like other countries with well-established distance education system started the extension services of higher education in the form of University Correspondence Courses (UCC) in 1975-76. Over the years following the introduction of UCC, major changes in social and economic conditions had occurred in Myanmar. As it was necessary to promote the educational activities of the UCC under the changing conditions of the country, the Chairman of Myanmar Education Committee had given guidance in October 1991, to make UCC more extensive and comprehensive to be compatible with quality distance education system. Accordingly, officials under the Department of Higher Education had undertaken the preparatory work by reorganizing and restructuring the existing UCC for the emergence and establishment of a new Institution. Consequently the University of Distance Education was founded on 9 July 1992.

2. Background

a. Brief History of University Correspondence Courses in Myanmar

University Correspondence Courses were initiated with the objective of fulfilling the needs of those students who were qualified for higher education, but for various reasons were unable to attend classes as full-time students. The Correspondence Courses were also aimed at providing higher education and training to persons in the work force who have desire to acquire university degrees without having to leave their jobs or homes. The University Correspondence Courses were designed to be in parallel with the conventional courses conducted in the institutions of higher education, and care was taken to particularly maintain the quality and assurance of such courses so that they are at least at part with those of full-time courses of higher educational institutions. The University Correspondence Courses of the Institute of Education were initiated much earlier in 1973-74 academic year, while those for specialization in Arts, Science, Economics and Law took root in the academic year 1975-76.

b. Correspondence Courses at Universities, Degree Colleges, and Colleges

During the academic year 1975-76, the Arts and Science University, Yangoon, began conducting Correspondence Courses for studies in Arts, Science, Law and Economics subjects. The subjects for majoring and the degrees offered were as follows:

Beginning from the academic year 1978-79, the University Correspondence Courses were extended to Mandalay Arts and Science University, which then began to share the academic and administrative load.

The University Correspondence Courses, which were previously affiliated to respective universities, came under the direct control of the Ministry of Education on 31 December 1980. Beginning from the academic year 1981-82 Correspondence Courses were conducted not only at the Arts and Science Universities in Yangon and Mandalay but also at Magway, Pathein and Mawlamyine Degree Colleges. Later beginning from the academic year 1985-86, the University Correspondence Courses were extended to all Universities, Degree Colleges, and Colleges, each of which became a centre of registration for students in the region. Curriculum planning, production of course books and learning materials, preparation of assignments for self-study, assessment of students work on assignments, setting of questions for examinations, and evaluation of answer papers were at first undertaken on a part time basis by the professors, heads of departments and the teaching staff of the Arts and Science University, Yangon, and the Institute of Economics. From the time that the Mandalay University began to share the academic and administrative load of the University Correspondence Program, the University and its affiliated colleges have been undertaking the educational activities of the Correspondence Course in Upper Myanmar.

At the beginning of each academic year, course books were given out to all registered students, and every student was required to complete 16 assignments for each course for the respective academic year. The assignments were sent to the students by mail according to the academic calendar and the students returned them back after completing the tasks. These were then marked by the respective teaching staff often with additional remarks and mailed back to the students.

Towards the end of the academic year, the students were required to attend certain intensive classroom instructions for about two weeks at their respective institutions, after which they had to sit for the examinations.

For some time in the past, with the cooperation of the Myanmar Radio and Television Department Network, radio lessons for correspondence students were broadcast by the teaching staff of the Arts and Science University, Yangon, at the rate of one hour per day, for an approximate duration of three months per year.

c. Establishment of University of Distance Education

Under the changing social and economic conditions taking place in the country, following major policy changes since 1988, it had be come necessary to upgrade the University Correspondence Courses by reorganizing and restructuring the existing facilities and establishment and raising the efficiency of the institution.Changes in Government policies especially with the adoption of market-based economic system have given rise to the requirements of new pattern of employment and manpower attributed to education and training which are also to be in line with the changes occurring in the socio-economic settings. In such a situation the central problem facing higher education in Myanmar is the need to induce greater accessibility to education and training for human resources development commensurate with modernizing the economy of the country. Against these underlying situations and with the guidance of the Myanmar Education Committee and in accordance with the resolution passed by it, the University of Distance Education as a separate entity came into existence on 9 July 1992.

d. Organizational Structure

The head of the University of Distance Education is the Rector who is supported by two Pro-Rectors, Heads of Administrative Departments and Professors of Academic Departments. The University has its own Administrative Board and Academic Body chaired by the Rector. The Administrative Board is charged with the responsibility of dealing with all administrative and financial matters of the University, while the Academic Body has authority over academic matters. Currently there are 23 regional branches affiliated to existing universities and colleges and through these regional branches educational as well as administration and management matters are carried out. Â The five main administrative departments of the University of Distance Education led by the Heads of Departments are as follows:

The fourteen academic departments of the University of Distance Education headed by Professors are as: Myanmar, English, History, Geography, Philosophy, Psychology, Oriental Studies, Law, Economics, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Botany, Zoology.

e. Objectives

The objectives of the University of Distance Education are:

1. to make higher education accessible to all students at minimal cost and without having to leave their homes or jobs.
2. to offer courses of higher education to all within the country including those residing in border areas.
3. to ensure a high standard of tertiary education to be at par with courses offered at other institutions.
4. to produce through a higher education program, qualified citizens who will be able to serve better in the interest of the state and to equip them with the ability to carry out effectively all tasks given them by the state.

The overall objective is to bring about improvement in the quality, efficiency and equity of the Myanmar education system, especially with the introduction of UDE to promote human resource development and to strengthen its contribution towards the social and economic development. In particular, it is aimed at promoting and strengthening educational facilities required for sustainable accessibility and improvement in the field of distance education.

a. Distance Education System

An important feature of the distance education system of the UDE is that the instructional process which is carefully designed as a system that enables the flow of teaching from the teaching agency through materials production and various media to the learner. The responses of the students regarding their learning ability and information on educational programs and services rendered by the UDE flow back through the system to the respective academic and administrative departments which assess and monitor and take necessary actions so that the standards of good educational quality are met as outlined by the University.

To carry out its distance education program, the UDE uses all available media, the most common being the printing of texts, study guides and other written materials. Broadcasting of both radio and television lessons is another major undertaking. Additionally, radio lessons are recorded in audiotapes and TV lessons are recorded in videotapes and they are made available to the students through district and township Information and Public Relation Departments. Moreover, in order that the students have easy access to prescribed text books and study guides at all times, all printed materials from UDE are also handed over to the libraries of Information and Public Relation Departments located all over the country.

An increasing number of radio and television lessons have been produced; keeping in mind that apart from reading and studying from texts and study guides more and more students are learning supplementary materials from radio and TV lessons. Over the years, there was an increase of radio lessons from 353 in 1992 to 942 in 1999. During this period there was also an increase in the broadcast of TV lessons from 21 in 1992 to 92 in 1999.

At present two-hour radio lessons are being broadcast everyday and six TV lessons lasting (15) minutes each are also being broadcast weekly. Radio and TV lesson broadcasts are usually repeated as the academic year nears its end and the final examinations approach. Lectures and print based materials are prepared by the staff members of the respective departments of the UDE. Since the UDE now has its own recording studio, faculty members are now in a position to produce radio lessons more efficiently without wasting commuting time. At present TV lessons are being recorded at the television studio of Myanmar Education Research Bureau, which is also under the Ministry of Education.

Radio and TV lessons are eventually transmitted and televised by Myanmar Radio and Television Department (MRTD). At present the UDE is trying its utmost to establish a TV Studio on campus in a few months time. Such an endeavor will certainly boost the quality as well as the quantity of TV lesson-production of UDE.

b. Program of Study and Training

At the moment, all of the University of Distance Education students are those studying for the Bachelor degree. The total number of UDE students registered for the academic year 1998-99 was 198,917 students. As the projection of student enrolment at the UDE shows a very rapid rate of increase compared to those of other education institutions, the ratio of graduate outturn in future would still be much larger. Hence, a carefully well-worked-out plan for the possible expansion of UDE activities including institutional infrastructure should be drawn and implemented in time to cope with the emerging situation.

To acquire Bachelor degree students must study specified text books and study-guide books, that are usually given them once they enroll and supplementary materials are also given to the students through a number of Radio and TV lessons. Those students specializing in science subjects have to attend practical classes at weekends at the respective universities and colleges. Towards the end of the academic year students specializing in arts, economics and law subjects are given the opportunity to attend face-to-face classroom sessions between the teachers and the students.

After completion of this teaching and learning process the students are required to sit for the final examinations. The Board of Studies and the Board of Examiners of the University ensure that the UDE standards are comparable with those of other Universities in Myanmar. The students have a choice of 14 subjects for specialization. The subjects offered for specialization and the degrees awarded are shown below.

In the coming academic year 1999-2000, new interdisciplinary courses will be introduced and students will have more opportunities to study for distance education degrees or diplomas of their choice.

In contrast to the conventional full-time University courses, the characteristic feature of Distance Education is that the teachers and students are physically separate and the students learn in his or her own home or sometimes places of work. Every course is designed for students to learn on their own. Multi-media approach is utilized in teaching distance education students. At the core of all courses are specific textbooks, study guides and model questions and answers. These are linked in most cases to other learning materials such as radio lessons and television programs.

To make the distance education system more efficient one strategic way is through training of trainers. Thus, to be more effective, training of trainers in the form of workshops and seminars are being planned and carried out at UDE itself. Occasional seminars and workshops aimed at improving the quality of distance education are common features of the UDE.

i. Students Population and Human Resource Development

The UDE being a tertiary institution admits students who have successfully completed the Basic Education High School Examination (Matriculation Examination). At the moment the UDE has not only the largest number of student population among other universities and higher educational institutions but also is expanding at in increasing rate. The number of students seeking higher education from the UDE in 1991-92 was 88,225. The total student enrolment at UDE (Yangon) and UDE (Mandalay) for the academic year 1998-99 was 198,917; hence the student population has more than doubled in seven years (See Appendix B and C, for student enrolment in A.Y. 1998-1999).

Over the years almost 50% of the matriculates who applied for entrance to Arts and Science universities and colleges opted to register at the UDE. Of those who are ensuing further studies at the UDE, more than 80% are in the workforce and are residing at different parts of the country.

From the point of human resource development distance education is crucial to the country, especially at a time when the country is undergoing changes in social and economic fields. In its broadest context distance education covers the role of education in social and economic development. In fact, the development of the full potential of human beings through formal as well as non-formal education stands at the center of social and economic development process.

 In the University itself plans are underway for the emergence of innovative programs, devised to develop skill, attitudes and capacities through distance education system. This will be required to enhance the teaching potential of the UDE to prepare graduates as well as those in jobs to adapt to technological and other changes in work establishments. Under the changing social and economic conditions in Myanmar, there is the need for improvement of internal and external efficiencies of distance education of this University by improving educational facilities and infrastructure.

a. Research and Development

The University of Distance Education regards research as a vital element in its various educational activities. An active research program helps to ensure that teaching and learning in distance education at all levels are being promoted as needed by constantly changing situation both socially and economically. To be compatible with the latest developments, the UDE is increasingly concerned to lay major emphasis on staff development so that both the teaching and non-teaching staff of high quality are properly allocated in the respective departments of the University.

It is believed that a healthy research program of the University should encompass both the teaching and learning process in distance education, which can be significantly enhanced by a comprehensive conduct of a study through appropriate research designs and strategies.

The Department of Research and Development of the UDE is especially concerned with the improvement of distance teaching and student learning through course design, evaluation and research and introduction of new technology. The Research and Development Department maintains an appropriate knowledge base, which it seeks to extend and promote to identify educational issues with important future implications that will serve as a guide for possible educational planning commensurate with National Development Plan.

In order to be able to carry out the research work properly and to effectively diagnose and identify educational issues of the University of Distance Education the staff members of the Research and Development Department are being trained in and equipped with research methodology. They are being made acquainted with research designs and strategies that include formulation of research problems and carrying out of the activities concerning research designs.

At the moment, there is a series of research studies conducted regularly every academic year. A regular inquiry into the effectiveness of student learning through different media like radio, TV, textbooks and study guides, is made by conducting research studies. Based on important findings from such studies, course reviews and structural changes in the broadcasting medium are carried out by the respective departments.

To a certain degree research study lays an emphasis on student learning of distance education. However, the other important part of distance education is distance teaching. This teaching and student learning should go together to make an efficient distance education system. Hence, evaluative research is usually carried out which is oriented toward an assessment or appraisal of the quality and quantity of distance teaching and its performance and attributes.

b. University of Distance Education in Upper Myanmar

Due to the changing socio-economic conditions in the country and greater accessibility to pursue higher education through distance learning, the student population of the UDE had increased to nearly 200,000 in the academic year 1998-99. The number of students is expected to increase in the coming years. More regional learning centre will have to be opened to cater to the growing needs of the students.

The size of the student population necessitates making changes in the organization and management of the UDE. Due consideration was taken and the system was reviewed in the light of the efficiency and effectiveness of the teaching-learning environment. Underpinning the need to cater to the students more effectively and managing the affairs of the UDE more efficiently, the Myanmar Education Committee had directed to plan for the creation of a new distance education university in the Upper Myanmar. Thus the UDE was reorganized into two separate universities - one for Lower Myanmar in Yangon - UDE (Yangon) and one for Upper Myanmar in Mandalay - UDE (Mandalay). The organizational structures of the two universities are identical. The UDE (Mandalay) was inaugurated on 18 May 1998 and has its own Administrative Board and Academic Body. Since the commencement of the 1998-99 Academic Year, the university has been engaging in the administration of the teaching-learning programs except preparation and production of teaching materials. The UDE (Yangon) is currently taking charge of the preparation and production of teaching materials - textbooks, study guides, and radio and television lessons.

c. Regional Centers of the Two UDEs

At present, regional centers of both UDEs are established at universities and colleges belonging to the Ministry of Education. The UDE (Yangon) has its regional centers in Lower Myanmar in Yangon, Dagon, Mawlamyine, Pathein, Sittway, Bago, Pyay, Hinthada, Hpa-an and Dawei. The total enrolment for these centers for the academic year 1998-99 was 118,250.The UDE (Mandalay) is responsible for supervision and coordination of Regional Centers in Upper Myanmar namely: Mandalay, Taunggyi, Magway, Monywa, Myitkyina, Meiktila, Shwebo, Pakokku, Yenanchaung, Lashio, Kale, Loikaw and Kengtong. The total enrolment for these centers for the academic year 1998-99 was 80,667.