The development of a region rests much on smooth transport, infrastructures, foundations for economic growth, and high education and health standards of the people.

With this context, the government is putting earnest efforts into the border areas and national races development projects that cover abovementioned points. As a result, border areas have seen a large number of infrastructures necessary for development and are enjoying rapid progress.

Regarding the drive for raising the education standard of national races living in border areas and turning out more and more intellectuals and intelligentsia of national races to maintain and promote the already-achieved development momentum, Chairman of the Central Committee for Progress of Border Areas and National Races Head of State Senior General Than Shwe, at the meeting of the Central Committee held on 29 March 2004, gave guidance on necessary measures to be taken for improving the living conditions of local people, ensuring sustainable progress of border areas, and producing human resources in the areas.

For promoting the education standard of the entire nation, the government is implementing the plan ‘Education For All’ by combining formal education and non-formal education for literacy of all people irrespective of age, status and wealth, and for continuing education for those who have become literate. It is also taking steps for raising the education standard of the people and producing human resources in border areas in compliance with the guidance of the Head of State such as opening and upgrading of basic education schools, establishment of colleges, degree colleges and universities, and opening of short-term three “Rs” courses specially designed to improve the education standard of national races.

Moreover, for ensuring human resources development in border areas, the Education and Training Department under the Ministry for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs is opening nationalities youth development training schools, vocational training centres for women, and Nationalities Youth Resource Development Degree Colleges, and training and nurturing the youth of national races in far-flung areas.

The objectives of the nationality youth development training schools are as follows:—

(a) for the youth of national races, to enhance national unity and equip themselves with Union Spirit, while pursuing education,

(b) to be convinced of and uphold Our Three Main National Causes — Non-disintegration of the Union, Non-disintegration national solidarity, and Perpetuation of sovereignty,

(c) to understand and preserve the culture, traditions and customs of national races,

(d) to rekindle the youths’ spirit of contributing towards development of border areas and improving the living standard of national races,

(e) to inculcate the youth with the spirit of participating with might and main in the building of a peaceful, modern and developed nation,

(f) to engage in tasks for development of their own regions after completion of the education.

To ensure that the youth of national races in border areas do not miss opportunities to pursue education for various reasons, responsible persons are making field trips to the region concerned, collecting orphans, youth without mother, youth without father in poverty and helping them attend nationality youth development training schools. The government has opened two nationality youth development training schools each in Myitkyina and Mindat, and one each in Bhamo, Putao, Kunlon, Tangyan, Kengtung, Lwemwe, Loikaw, Hakha, Tiddim, Hkamti, Leshi, Lahe, Sittway, Kyakyaung (Yangon), Matupi, Kanpetlet, Pinlon, Pakokku, Kalay, Falam, Thantlang, Tonzang, and Hpa-an totalling 27. In 2007-2008 academic year, 278 students are pursuing primary education, 1611, middle school education, and 693, high school education in these schools. The government provides all expenses for the students. The students who have passed matriculation examination can pursue higher education in Nationalities Youth Resource Development Degree Colleges. Under the plan laid down by the government, schoolgirls who have passed matriculation examination may join nurses training schools, midwifery training schools, or four year courses of the University for Development of National Races.

In accordance with the guidance of Senior General Than Shwe, technical institutes were opened in Laukkai, Panhsan and Mongla in 2006. The courses of the institutes include mechanics and welding in addition to carpentry, masonry, steel fixing, and drawing. Furthermore, to enable the youth in border areas to pursue vocational education to earn their living, the government opened a vocational training school / car servicing workshop in Sittway in 2000. There, they can learn subjects of mechanics, basic electrical, electronic, and welding.

The people are therefore duty-bound to build and strengthen national vigour, national solidarity, national economy, and international level human resources and safeguard national interests to enable the motherland to stand tall in the world.

Today, the world has seen rapid changes in various sectors. So, only people with high education standard, high intellectual power and strong nationalistic spirit are capable of protecting and promoting national interests effectively. This being the case, the government is taking measures continuously to promote the education standard of the youth in border areas and to ensure development of human resources.

So, the people have to do their bit in implementing the entire people’s ultimate goal of building a peaceful, modern and developed democratic nation with flourishing discipline, while upholding the State’s objectives and Our Three Main National Causes.