Acting President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and State Security and Peace Commission Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing delivered a commemorative speech at the ceremony to confer Honorary Doctor of Public Administration (DPA honoris causa) on him at the University of Yangon yesterday. The full text of the translated speech is as follows: –
I
extend my greetings to all those attending today’s honorary doctorate conferral
ceremony, including members of the Yangon University Thahaya Club, members of
the National Security and Peace Commission, Union-level dignitaries, senior
military officers, the Chief Minister of Yangon Region, Deputy Ministers,
rectors, specially invited rectors from international universities, honorary
professors, professors, and all distinguished guests.
In
accordance with the fine traditions of the University of Yangon, I am deeply
honoured and delighted to receive the Honorary Doctor of Public Administration
conferred upon me in this convocation hall. I regard this not only as a
personal honour, but also as a significant milestone of great importance in
advancing the nation’s future education sector. Moreover, together with this
honorary doctorate, I feel that I now bear even greater responsibility in the
task of building the future of the nation. It also serves as a source of
strength for the journey ahead.
I
have known that different honorary degrees were conferred on a total of 72
prominent individuals, including monks, foreign leaders and civilians, in this
convocation from 1921 to 2020. I understand that the degrees conferred were
Honorary Doctor of Literature degrees and Honorary Doctor of Law degrees. I
understand that Honorary Doctor of Literature degrees were conferred upon
members of the Sangha Aggamaha Pandita Bhaddanta Silananda Bhivamsa, Bhaddanta
Mārābhivamsa,
and Bhaddanta Nyanissara and those Honorary Doctor of Law degrees were
conferred upon international leaders, namely Yugoslav President Marshal Tito
and Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh.
I
am especially proud and delighted to have been conferred the first-ever
Honorary Doctorate in Public Administration by the University of Yangon, which
celebrates its 106th anniversary in 2026. I also recall that I studied law as
my major at this great university during the 1972-73 academic year.
In
1972, I was at Ramanya Hall during my first year of study, and in my second
year, I attended the Department of Arts. In January 1974, I transferred to the
Defence Services Academy for the cadet course. I fondly remember the fresh and
lush Gangaw (Mesua ferrea) plantations, the teachers who taught us with full dedication
and energy, my classmates, and the large university’s library. Likewise, I also
recall beginning my military life as a trainee in the No 1 University Training
Corps (No 1 UTC) during 1972-73.
Founded
on 1 December 1920, the University of Yangon, now over a century old, is a
priceless legacy of the nation’s rich educational heritage. Throughout history,
it has been renowned as one of the most prestigious and distinguished
universities in South East Asia. Beyond academics, it has also been a stronghold
of Myanmar’s struggle for independence, nurturing patriotism and a spirit of
national pride, and has produced numerous national leaders.
Prominent
leaders, including the national hero General Aung San, as well as other notable
figures in Myanmar’s struggle for independence and eminent scholars, are all
intellectual treasures nurtured by the University of Yangon. Likewise, experts
in various fields – administration, economics, social affairs, and politics have,
through the training and education provided by their alma mater, been able to
faithfully carry out the nation’s responsibilities within their respective
sectors.
Distinguished
guests,
Just
as building strong physical infrastructure is essential for nation-building, it
is even more important to construct “intellectual infrastructure”. With this in
mind, during my tenure, I placed special emphasis on education, guiding
policies to develop effective teaching and learning, and to cultivate the
necessary teaching workforce to produce valuable human resources for future
generations. When the government first took on the responsibility of the State,
it faced a period marked globally by the COVID-19 pandemic and domestically by
political instability and intense disruption.
Amid
these difficult challenges, we firmly regarded education as an indispensable
part of nation-building. Efforts were made to ensure that students’ access to
learning opportunities was not lost, working tirelessly to reopen schools, from
primary education to universities and colleges, as quickly as possible.
It
is well known that some destructive actors targeted the education sector in an
attempt to undermine the future of the younger generation. Schools were
forcibly closed, teachers were pressured by the DCS, and students were
threatened. Despite these challenges, the government prioritized security and
management measures to ensure that the education system did not come to a halt.
We acted with a firm stance that education must never be used as a political
weapon. Honest and dedicated education staff, through their courageous efforts
and commitment, ensured that students’ learning continued uninterrupted. It is
thanks to their work that the current situation has been achieved, and we are
deeply grateful and proud of their contributions.
The
level of development of a country directly depends on the quality of education
of its citizens. Education not only enhances the critical thinking abilities of
the nation’s people but also serves as the only force capable of fostering
unity and harmony amid diversity.
For
a strong Union founded on a genuine and disciplined multiparty democratic
system and a federal structure to emerge, the country must have citizens who
are well-educated and skilled. Supporting and promoting education is the “most
profitable investment” for the nation’s future. By receiving today’s honorary
degree, I am further encouraged to continue striving in the coming years to
advance Myanmar’s education sector and help build a nation rich in educated and
capable citizens.
Even
though natural resources are extremely scarce, we must take careful note of
examples where countries have become global economic powers by building their
development on education. Looking at the post-World War II recovery of Japan,
which rebuilt from devastation, and South Korea, which endured severe civil war
damage, we see that both nations prioritized the development of human resources
over natural resources as a national strategic focus. This clearly demonstrates
that a country’s progress and development rely directly and proportionally on
the knowledge, skills, and quality of its citizens rather than on the natural
resources beneath its soil.
The
government’s increased funding for the education sector, upgrading of schools,
and improvement of teacher capacity are all laying the foundational pillars for
the nation’s strength in the decades to come. All of us must continue to strive
tirelessly and wholeheartedly, building on education, so that the country can
stand proudly and confidently on the global stage as a modern and developed
nation.
We
have prioritized reopening schools and providing teachers, even in the most
remote regions, to ensure that there is no educational disparity among ethnic
areas. This is an investment in education aimed at national rehabilitation and
fostering a strong sense of union spirit. We are particularly attentive to the
fact that in some remote or security-sensitive areas, young children face
obstacles in accessing education. Amid the severe teacher shortage challenges
encountered since 2021, the government has firmly upheld the policy that
wherever there are students, there must be teachers, and wherever there are
schools, there must be teachers. We have worked tirelessly to fully provide the
necessary security and teaching mechanisms. In areas with teacher shortages, we
are also training local youth as teachers and reassigning them to help reduce
educational gaps.
Looking
ahead, our educational goal is to implement reforms and improvements under the
principle: “From quality education towards national strength”. Observing most developed
countries today, we see that supporting locally based vocational and technical
education not only reduces unemployment but also strengthens regional
production and boosts economic performance. As an agricultural and
livestock-based country, we can learn from these successful models. By aligning
the State’s policies on agriculture, livestock, and industrial technology with
regional production strengths, we can enhance domestic production from the
ground up and steadily promote the nation’s economic development.
As
a result, young people will gain greater employment opportunities. Expanding
and opening schools focused on industrial, agricultural, and livestock
institutes is intended to provide those who complete basic education but cannot
continue to university with practical skills for self-reliance, while also
supplying skilled workers to support the nation’s production sectors.
Distinguished
guests,
Viewing
the science and technology sector as a source of the nation’s future strength,
we have worked to enhance the quality of technological and computer
universities. In particular, the opening of world-class institutions such as
Naypyitaw State Academy and Naypyitaw Polytechnic University, along with the
establishment of Polytechnic Universities in each region and state, represents
a major step toward producing the highly skilled engineers and research
scientists that the country needs.
Furthermore,
since teacher quality is crucial for improving educational standards,
educational universities and degree colleges are being upgraded. Teachers are
expected not only to master modern methods and systems but also to cultivate a
new generation with patriotism and strong moral character. To support this
responsibility, the State will continuously provide the necessary policy
guidance and socioeconomic support.
One
thing I want to encourage all scholars, teachers, and administrators serving in
the education sector to keep in mind is that education does not exist only
within classrooms; it is the foundational pillar that shapes the nation’s
future destiny. The policies we set and the programmes we plan must not remain
only on paper; they need to be practically implemented on the ground. In
particular, teachers play a crucial leadership role in modernizing the education
system. Universities must become centres that generate innovation for the
nation. Therefore, educational policies at universities will place strong
emphasis on developing research-based institutions. Universities and colleges
are also encouraged to align their disciplinary research with the practical
needs of the State.
Teachers
have to simply teach students knowledge and skills; they must also serve as
role models in fostering patriotism and strong moral character. If teachers and
students work together diligently and harmoniously, a generation of
well-rounded and capable young people will emerge, serving as valuable human
resources for the nation.
The
reforms we have implemented will serve as strong foundational pillars for the
country’s socioeconomic development for many years to come. In line with the
honorary degree conferred upon me, I wish to express that, on behalf of the
State, I will continue to actively support and promote the modernization and
advancement of education as a national priority, without losing momentum.
I
will always consider myself an alumnus of the University of Yangon and, in that
spirit, continue to support and assist in its development from all angles so
that it can become a world-class university, honouring its past prestige.
Efforts are being made not only to preserve the university’s historic buildings
but also to ensure that teaching and research meet international standards.
This aims to create a proud educational environment for future generations. The
University of Yangon will continue to stand as a beacon of knowledge, nurturing
outstanding human resources for the nation for many decades to come.
In
conclusion, I view the honorary doctorate awarded to me today not just as a
personal honour, but as recognition for all the teachers and education officials
who are diligently working to advance the nation’s education sector. I do not
accept this honorary degree as an individual achievement; rather, I see it as a
new responsibility to serve the country. It inspires me to further dedicate my
efforts to fulfilling educational duties for the State and the people.
If
all of us work together, building the nation on education, Myanmar will surely
become a strong and respected country on the global stage in the
not-too-distant future. I pledge to continue striving to make the nation’s and
its citizens’ future brighter and stronger, fulfilling the hopes of the people.
I would like to conclude by expressing my gratitude to the Rector of the
University of Yangon and all senior fellows for this honour.
MNA/TTA
#TheGlobalNewLightOfMyanmar
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