Ministry of Education to establish new MRTV channel

 July 31, 2017

The Government will create a state-run television channel, the Government Education Television channel, devoted to enhancing Myanmar’s education reforms, according to a Pyithu Hluttaw motion approved yesterday.  The motion was introduced by Dr. U Hla Moe of Aungmye- thazan constituency.

“If the channel is established the Ministry of Information will subsidize technical assistance and infrastructure of broadcasting,” Union Minister for Information Dr. Pe Myint said. “And, it will be necessary for the Ministry of Education to film and broadcast programmes. The GETV Channel will be included in the MRTV network. Equipment will be provided depending upon the location of the studio and what is to be filmed by the Ministry of Education.

Setting up fiber channel connections and connecting it to the satellite earth station in Yangon and Nay Pyi Taw (Tatkon), building the studio, purchasing and installation of machinery needed for the project, hiring fiber channel connections will all require Ministry of Education funding. The Ministry of Information will cooperate with the Ministry of Education.” “Teaching and learning is now done in the classroom, but the future paradigm of learning will be beyond classrooms,” said U Min Thein of Taungdwingyi constituency. “Instead schools or teaching centres will come to the places where students live. Students from England can get educational attainments of degrees conferred upon by American universities by linking with computers and networks without moving an inch from their own places. Myanmar also needs an educational TV channel. Simply broadcasting lectures by a professor as if he reciting from memory will not attract students.”

“Educational investment should be made by launching an education TV channel so that the whole populace, from urban and rural areas including hilly regions, can access online education,” said U Ye Lwin of Ahlone constituency. “It will be very helpful for the future of children to broadcast educational programmes, stories and lessons on discipline, moral ethics and spiritual values. Simultaneously, we can reduce inequality in education. It will be more effective for the education system to rapidly develop if punctual lessons are available.”  Union Minister for Education Dr. Myo Thein Gyi also supported the motion saying: “I hereby support the motion and it should be approved by the Hluttaw. Arrangements should be made to broadcast educational lectures and stories as a separate TV channel. In support of the establishment of a separate education TV channel in combination with information technology platforms, the Ministry of Education will submit grant budgets in respective financial years by laying down long-term and short-term plans to implement installation of ICT equipments and studio fiber channel connections and acquisition of technicians and professionals. “It cannot be implemented overnight by the Ministry of Education, needing to take time” Dr Myo Thein Gyi said. The Pyithu Hluttaw also addressed a new emergency warning system over SMS.  Deputy Minister for Transport and Communications U Kyaw Myo described a pilot program me whereby text messages that contained weather warnings were sent over mobile networks.

“The Disaster Alert Notification Mobile Application includes news and information, emergency phone numbers and what to do and what not to do in time of natural disasters, advance notification and alerts,” U Kyaw Myo said.  “To improve the efficiency of the system we will negotiate implementation with the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement and the Ministry of Transport and Communications.”

By Kyaw Thu Htet, Hmwe Kyu Zin (Myanmar News Agency)

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar