Education and Schools in Myanmar

This guide was written prior to the military coup in Myanmar in February 2021 and is therefore not reflective of the current situation. Travel to Myanmar is currently not advisable due to ongoing civil unrest, armed conflict, and severe restrictions on communications and transportation.

Despite its political struggles, Myanmar’s society values education. The country has a literacy rate of 89 percent, which ranks in the middle range among Southeast Asian countries. The country’s education system has undergone significant developments since its independence from British rule. The language of instruction in public schools changed from English to Burmese, making public education a largely unsuitable choice for expats.

Myanmar’s education system has been severely disrupted since the February 2021 military coup, with widespread school closures, safety concerns, and ongoing civil conflict affecting all levels of education. If you’re looking to live and work in Myanmar, be aware that enrolling your children in schools has become extremely challenging due to the ongoing political crisis and safety concerns.

Since the 2021 military coup, the situation has deteriorated dramatically, with over 13,000 schools reportedly forced to close due to armed conflict. Most children have stopped attending school, with over 90 percent of students not enrolling in the current education system. The military junta implemented mandatory conscription in 2024, requiring males aged 18 to 35 and females aged 18 to 27 to serve two to five years in the armed forces.

While some private and international schools in Yangon may still operate, competition for spaces remains fierce, and many families are choosing to relocate to neighbouring countries for educational stability.

Working in Myanmar 

Public schools in Myanmar

Myanmar’s education system is still based on the British system, and English is offered as a second language in schools. Early childhood education typically begins around age five, with primary school education becoming compulsory from around age six until Grade 5. Thereafter, students enter secondary school, which comprises middle and high school. The standard structure is:

• Kindergarten: age 5 to 6
• Primary school: Grades 1 to 5 (ages 6 to 11)
• Lower secondary: Grades 6 to 9 (ages 11 to 15)
• Upper secondary: Grades 10 to 11 (ages 15 to 17)

Public schools in Myanmar may be free to attend, but the quality of education is far below what most expats are used to. Schools are under-resourced and have ageing infrastructure, and teachers are underpaid due to poor government spending on education.

Private schools in Myanmar

Private schools are a fairly new concept in Myanmar and typically offer the national curriculum with a distinct focus on English. These schools are mainly targeted towards middle-class families and offer smaller class sizes and a wider range of extracurricular activities at a much more affordable rate than international schools.

Since their inception in 2012, private schools enjoyed consistently high levels of enrolment, as they offered an excellent standard of education and allowed students to develop their English-language proficiency. Expat children would also likely experience less culture shock than they would at public schools. However, the ongoing political crisis has severely impacted private school operations, with many closing due to safety concerns and economic instability.

A significant percentage of children also attend monastic secular schools, which are run by monks. These schools focus on literacy and arithmetic proficiency. Historically, monastic schools only admitted boys. They have since developed to provide education to all children from villages who cannot access government schools.

Local Culture in Myanmar

International schools in Myanmar

If you’re an expat parent moving to Myanmar and wish for your children to continue in your home country’s curriculum or learn a global curriculum, you should consider an international school, although options are now severely limited by the ongoing crisis.

International schools have long been permitted to operate in Myanmar and are mostly based in Yangon. The English National Curriculum and American curriculum are the most popular offerings, with many schools also offering the International Baccalaureate programme. Although not as common, French and Singaporean curricula are also on offer in Myanmar. However, many international schools have reduced operations or temporarily relocated due to safety concerns since 2021.

These schools offer your children an opportunity to retain their home language and culture while meeting other expat families and still learning about Myanmar’s rich heritage. However, you should carefully assess current safety conditions and school availability before making educational decisions.

Special-needs education in Myanmar

Myanmar implemented an Inclusive Education policy to ensure the integration of children with special educational needs into mainstream public schools. That said, this rarely happens due to a lack of policy enforcement and inadequate resources.

Children with mild support needs are accommodated in mainstream schools. Children with visual, physical and hearing impairments and developmental impediments have access to one of 12 specialised schools in Yangon and Mandalay.

Private and international schools are the best alternative for expat children, as they are more likely to have the resources to adapt the learning environment and curricula to suit your child’s needs. Contact international and private schools to find out about the respective accommodations offered at each school, although availability may be limited due to current circumstances.

Tutors in Myanmar

Tutoring is extremely popular in Myanmar and is often used as a substitute for public education. School-going children in Myanmar typically have 20 hours of tutoring a week to help with preparation for matriculation or international board examinations.

Tutors can also be a priceless resource for expat children, since they can help them learn a new language or maintain proficiency in their home language. They can also help with adapting to a new curriculum and language through online or in-person lessons.

Recommended tutoring companies in Myanmar include TeacherOn, Tutoroo and Apprentus.