MEC team

MEC ethnic partner organizations accomplished MTB-MLE 6 week course at Chiang Mai

by MEC teamSeptember 13, 2019September 23, 2019 Leave a comment

MTB-MLE Chiang Mai Course — Figure 1: Learners and teachers of MTB-MLE 6 week course in Chiang Mai.

Myanmar Education Consortium (MEC) and representatives from ethnic partners’ BBCD staffs participated in a 6 week long MTB-MLE course in Chiang Mai, Thailand from July 24 to Aug 2, 2019.

The course was organized in partnership with SIL & Payap University and Language Institute. Two workshops were done consecutively starting with the MTB-MLE workshop followed by the Integrating cultural arts into education workshop. The main purpose of this course was to build participants’ capacity on MTB-MLE and learn how to develop different learning materials for better learning outcomes.

The participants were equipped with the knowledge, skills and value on the theory of MTB-MLE and practical session were conducted for material development. During the course, each of the language group produced language progression plan, big books, busy pictures, listening stories, songs and other skills to develop different materials for teaching and learning which are essential for the MTB-MLE program. The language groups would go back to their own organization and share their knowledge and skills with other staff. The newly developed materials would be tested in the communities to check whether they are appropriate for the children.

MEC supported the ethnic partners’ staffs to attend the course and expects them to carry forward their learning to the field. Moreover, when the staffs are back in their organization, MEC will follow up their activities by conducting field visits during book testing.

(Along with continuing support to four key complementary providers, and following a comprehensive research and design phase, MEC established five new partnerships for the delivery of capacity development in Mother Tongue Based – Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE). Through the initiative, which works with a broader base of mother tongue education providers, MEC has continued to contribute to the progression of multi-lingual education practices, capacity and policy in Myanmar.)

Figure 2: Student with her drawing picture at MTB-MLE Course.

Expression of Interest (EoI) for ‘Capacity Development for Quality Teaching-Learning in Multilingual Contexts’

by MEC teamDecember 5, 2017December 15, 2017 Leave a comment

Invitation to submit Expression of Interest (EoI) for MEC Initiative of ‘Capacity Development for Quality Teaching-Learning in Multilingual Contexts’

MEC will implement an initiative of “Capacity Development to Improve Teaching/ Learning in Multilingual Education Contexts’. This will involve a needs analysis with prospective partners followed by a 3 year programme of sequenced mentoring and support according to individual needs. There will also be opportunities for the participating partners to collaborate on research and advocacy in relation to ‘multilingual education’ and ‘effective education for multilingual contexts.

The deadline for EOI application is on 15 December 2017.

Strategic Facilitation Fund (SFF)

by MEC teamDecember 5, 2017December 5, 2017 Leave a comment

Test The Strategic Facilitation Fund (SFF) 2017 Application Period is now OPEN! Please read our guidelines before preparing your application.

1) Application Guidelines, MEC SFF Application Guidelines – October 2017
2) Proposal Format, MEC Proposal Format – SFF- October 2017
3) Budget Format, MEC SFF Budget Format October 2017

The Strategic Facilitation Fund (SFF) is designed as a flexible fund to support a broad base of stakeholders in non-government education systems to access technical assistance and engage in evidence based policy dialogue, to trial innovative approaches and to explore opportunities for sustainable programs, in alignment with MEC priority areas. Funding is designed to support specific activities, not long-term education programs.

MEC strategy 2016-2020, and this funding opportunity, will focus on support to complementary (ethnic and monastic) basic education systems. Three areas are prioritized and applicants are requested to specify which area they intend to apply to between: 1. Policy engagement for Education Reform, 2.Ethnic Education networking and collaboration, and 3.Education driven Innovation.

The deadline for application is on 31 December 2017.

MEC Team Away Day in Bagan

by MEC teamJune 27, 2017November 2, 2017 Leave a comment

MEC team conducted an internal workshop in Bagan from 21-22 June 2017. Revised partnership management guidelines, policy engagement strategy, and MERL framework were shared and presented with all staff.

Throughout the workshop, team members had a sound understanding of the purpose, priorities, and interventions of the ethnic and monastic education partners towards education systems strengthening. The team identified priority areas of technical support for partners working on the complementary education systems in order to deliver strategic support. At the end of the workshop, roles and functions of the MEC team are reexamined in contributing towards education systems strengthening.

4th Reflection & Learning Workshop

by MEC teamMay 18, 2017October 31, 2017 Leave a comment

MEC invited all current (12) partners to participate in the 4^th and Final MEC Reflection and Learning Workshop, with the aim of learning from the three years collaboration and celebrate successes. The workshop was conducted from 15 to 16 May at Inya Lake Hotel in Yangon.

Throughout the 2-day workshop, MEC partners contributed comments to the last version of the Final Evaluation before its finalization. Partners had better knowledge of each other’s successes and each partner presented the sustainability plan of their project to prove that they are ready to conclude MEC funded projects. This workshop concludes the first phase of MEC which aimed at working with Civil Society organizations before the beginning of a new phase that will be strengthening ethnic and monastic education systems, with a sustainability increased focus on policy engagement and coherence between education systems.

Ms. Jay from AusAID, one of the key donors of MEC, closed the event. She said, “We strongly believe that education is the key to unlock the potential of individuals and of society as a whole. It is the means to realize the potential of all boys and girls, men and women, regardless of where they live. As a more coherent and inclusive education system evolves, there will be opportunities for valuable learning from ethnic systems, in particular, multilingual education and community-based school management. We believe this will help strengthen education policy and provision as a whole. ”

MEC expresses its appreciation, congratulations, and thanks to all the partners for the last three years of collaboration and achievement. The most important take away from this partnership is that there is no unique solution, methodology or practice that makes a project a success, but it is a combination of all of them. It includes the professionalism, the passion and the energy of everyone.

Second Seminar on Shan National Education Policy and Planning

by MEC teamMarch 29, 2017May 18, 2017 Leave a comment

Myanmar Education Consortium (MEC) funded the Second Seminar on Shan National Education Policy and Planning organized by the Centre for Rural Education & Development (CRED) as a part of MEC Strategic Facilitation Fund (SFF).

This seminar provided a space for participants to discuss and share experiences as well as develop consensus on how to address barriers to education in Shan State from 25 to 26 February 2017.

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During the two-day seminar, the discussions and issues raised from the previous seminar conducted in December 2016 were revised, vision, mission, and objectives for the Shan National Education Strategic Planning were established and, suggestions and proposals to organize a Shan National Education Committee (SNEC) representing all education groups in Shan State were gathered.

All of the participants agreed that CRED will take the initiative and role of facilitating more meetings, conferences and advocacy activities on the topic. Professor Sai Naw Khay said, “We need a governing body to present our Shan education activities.”

The members of SNEC will be nominated by each organization in 2017. A sub-committee, Curriculum Development Committee, under SNEC will be appointed one year after the formation of SNEC. Moreover, a draft Shan National Education Policy will be developed in that timeframe. The various Shan curricula will be integrated and utilized through grade 11 within 5 years as the long term activity.

Ven. Dr. Khammai Dhammasami said, “Motivation and patience for the long journey towards implementing the Shan Education Program will be needed in the long run.”