Canada-Myanmar IDRC Research Fellowship Program at Chiang Mai University

 

The expansion of access to higher education in Myanmar between 2011 and 2021 has raised questions about equity in its recurring conflict context. This qualitative documentary analysis indicates that conflicts led to the maldistribution of resources caused by the closures of schools and examination centres and to cultural injustices arising from standardising the Burmese language and rigid citizenship requirements in education. The disparity of representation in university admission policy emanates from these conflicts, while the peace-building perspective of admission is often overlooked. This study recommends incorporating four crucial dimensions, namely redistribution, recognition, representation, and reconciliation, into the university admission policy in post-conflict Myanmar to promote transformative social change.

This policy brief aims to analyze the context of academic inclusiveness during the second democratic period (2011-2021) and present the findings from the analysis. The research utilizes both primary interviews and secondary data and reveals a new perspective that differs from two powerful political groups. The recommendations provided in this brief can help identify economic problems and set policy agendas during the rehabilitation period. These recommendations are intended for the legitimate government that has recently achieved political legitimacy and will be transformed through transitions among democratic political groups. The brief advocates for the establishment of a Federal Economic Advisory Council with sufficient authority and responsibility, as mandated by statutory law.

The garment sector, a gendered economy which experienced rapid growth after the state-led economic reform, is often seen as an opportunity for women to earn an economic position by shifting from subsistence to wage labor. However, the garment sector, a labor-intensive industry is, notorious for exploitative working conditions. Despite some state-led labor policy measures, working conditions never improve. In the post-coup situation, political oppression worsened the garment sector's working conditions. This study identifies the special needs of women workers by employing intersectional feminism and social reproduction feminism and then conducts a critical policy analysis of labor policies in addressing these needs.