Educational Access and Disparities in Myanmar

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the education sector in Myanmar. Core Insights - The education sector in Myanmar has made significant progress in expanding access and achieving gender parity in enrollment rates before the COVID-19 pandemic, but faced severe disruptions due to the pandemic, military coup, and economic decline, leading to a significant decline in enrollment rates, with 28 percent of children ages 6–17 out of school in 2022–23 [12][13][31] - Despite recent disruptions, primary education net enrollment rate (NER) reached 92 percent in 2024, surpassing pre-pandemic levels, and upper secondary NER increased by 28 percent between 2023 and 2024 [13][43] - Disparities in educational access persist across demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, with females exhibiting higher enrollment rates than males at middle and high school levels, and significant gaps between wealth groups, particularly at middle and high school levels [14][66] Summary by Sections Executive Summary - The report highlights significant progress in Myanmar's education sector prior to the pandemic, but severe disruptions have led to a decline in enrollment rates, with 28 percent of children ages 6–17 out of school in 2022–23 [12][31] Introduction - Myanmar's education sector experienced notable improvements in enrollment rates and gender parity before the pandemic, outperforming global averages and regional peers [20][21] Data and Methodology - The analysis is based on data from the Myanmar Living Conditions Survey 2017 and the Myanmar Subnational Phone Surveys conducted in 2023 and 2024, covering 303 out of 330 townships [33][35] State of Education Access: Levels, Disparities, and Changes - Access to education has improved significantly, with primary NER increasing by 27 percent from 2023 to 2024, reaching 92 percent, while upper secondary NER increased by 28 percent [43][44] - The lower secondary NER has declined by 14 percent, indicating a need for targeted interventions [44] - Gender disparities are evident, with females having higher enrollment rates than males at middle and high school levels, and significant gaps between wealth groups [14][66] Coping with Disruptions in Schooling - Economic hardship is the primary reason for school dropout, cited by 41 percent of respondents, followed by school closures and safety concerns [15] - There has been a shift towards non-state schools among wealthier households, with urban children comprising a significant portion of non-state school enrollment [16] Conclusions - Addressing inequalities in educational access is critical for Myanmar's future stability and prosperity, with recommendations for targeted interventions and support mechanisms [19]