Online education in Myanmar emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic and was cemented as a reality for many post-secondary students following the 2021 military coup. Ongoing political unrest has meant many secondary and post-secondary Myanmar students have no opportunity for classroom learning. On top of the ‘regular’ challenges of online learning delivery, Myanmar youth face limited internet access, frequent power outages, and security concerns due to government surveillance. In this environment, can online learning still be effective? What solutions can be put in place to mitigate the many challenges?
Published here are four studies that look at online education in Myanmar today. These studies are part of the small research grants project under IDRC’s Knowledge for Democracy Myanmar (K4DM) program. In all, 24 papers will be published.
“IDRC has consistently shown concern to understand and invest in the education environment in Myanmar, as we believe in the long-term importance of post-secondary education as a component of democratic development. Our support for research papers looking at the challenge of online education delivery is part of this ongoing commitment to higher education in Myanmar,” says Edgard Rodriguez, K4DM Initiative lead.
The four studies examining online education challenges are:
Unlocked and exposed: the impacts of digital security measures on classroom communication in online learning environments
(Nyan-Na, Maung Lwan-Wai, Hsay Sann) looks at digital security concerns and how they impact the quality of online classroom communication. How can alternative education providers respond to online classrooms where surveillance and oppression are constant concerns?
Education gap online: Myanmar’s higher education gap moves to the digital space
(Myanmar Data Tech Team) examines the challenges faced by Myanmar students engaging in online higher education, highlighting disparities both physical (electricity, internet connectivity) and social (gender). It emphasizes the active participation of surveyed participants in various online education programs, focusing on certificate courses, with primary learning platforms like YouTube and Google playing crucial roles in facilitating online learning.
Access to digital education: the final hope for education of young people in Myanmar
(Gathering House) looks at how disparities in online education access flowing from the Covid-19 pandemic and the military coup continue to impact young people’s digital education access. The focus is on rural and conflict-affected areas, emphasizing their participation in civil disobedience and resistance.
Chin State’s e-learning crossroads: can digital technology solve post-coup education gaps?
(TheHILLS Myanmar) 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.
Together, the four studies paint a picture of an online education marketplace that must continue to adapt and respond to significant challenges.
These four papers are among the 24 research studies funded under a K4DM project being carried by the SecDev Foundation, a Canadian non-profit focused on digital safety. All of the researchers undergo digital risk assessment support as part of preparing for both online/digital and field research in Myanmar. The first three papers in this series were published here: Myanmar Citizens’ Digital Resilience: Three Studies. More papers will follow soon, exploring the post-coup digital economy in Rakhine, post-coup Chin refugees in the Myanmar-India borderland, and two additional research studies focusing on gender as a battleground.