Chin State’s e-learning crossroads reveals the crucial role of digital technology in providing education access despite ongoing political unrest. The research presents unique field-level insights on the digital education landscape in Chin State, utilizing new data collected specifically for the study. Strategies discussed include providing access to Starlink internet, implementing solar or hydroelectric power, ensuring access to digital devices, securing funding, enhancing digital literacy, teaching online security, training for cyberbullying and sexual harassment prevention, guiding safe social media use, and offering educational programs on financial scam awareness
By TheHILLS Myanmar
MYANMAR DIGITAL RESEARCH 07
Executive summary
This study presents unique field-level research on the digital education landscape in Chin State, using new data collected for this study. It thus represents a new and up-to-date perspective on the current state of digital education in the region. The COVID-19 pandemic and the political unrest following the 2021 coup in Myanmar had a significant impact on Chin State, resulting in the
closure of schools and the displacement of almost a quarter of the State’s population. Digitalbased educational activities became a popular alternative for children’s learning. This study, conducted between 1 April 2020 and 31 December 2023, explores digital innovations in education in and around Chin State through open-question surveys with six educational service organisers, 15 teachers, and 153 students as respondents. Among the student participants, 41.8% were living in IDP/refugee camps both within and outside Chin State.
The survey revealed that digital-based educational activities were organised by various organisations, including political organisations, religious organisations, tribal organisations, private schools, and local NGOs. Students learned through online classes, internet-based content, and inperson classes that incorporated digital technology. However, more than half of the students had less than six months and 70% had less than a year of experience using digital technology in learning. The challenges and limitations included a lack of electricity, internet connection, devices, skills, and finances, as well as issues such as leaked personal information, financial scams, and cyberbullying. To improve the quality and efficiency of digital technology-based instruction and learning in Chin State, it is crucial that international donors, local education organisations, and other relevant stakeholders take necessary measures. These include providing the Chin community with access to Starlink internet, implementing solar energy or hydroelectric power, ensuring access to digital technology devices, securing adequate funding, improving digital literacy skills, teaching online security and safety measures, training on prevention and response to cyberbullying and sexual harassment, providing guidance on safe social media use, and offering educational courses/programs on identifying and avoiding financial scams.
This Myanmar Digital Research paper was produced for the Knowledge for Democracy Myanmar (K4DM) initiative, with the aid of a grant from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and with support from The SecDev Foundation. Views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of either organization.
Over the next two years, twenty papers in the Myanmar Digital Research series will have researchers within and in the Myanmar diaspora exploring how the digital world is shaping their social, political and economic crisis, bringing new insights into issues facing Myanmar citizens. See below for others available now.