POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION IN MYANMAR AND THE GED: QUALIFICATION VERSUS EDUCATION - Methodology, Findings, and Recommendations

Sep 14, 2026

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University pathways are a persistent barrier for students from Myanmar, especially graduates educated outside government-controlled areas or in migrant learning centers who cannot obtain recognition for K-12 schooling. Since the 2021 military coup, access to any government-recognized basic education has become substantially more limited. Using interviews from May–July 2023, the paper examines teaching and studying the US GED as an entry qualification accepted regionally, identifies instructional, learning, and logistical challenges, evaluates benefits and alternatives, and argues for an international, quality-assured, context-responsive entrance qualification.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages28

Reading Time1 h 11 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Methodology

The GED and Myanmar: Some Background

Key Findings

Instructional and Learning Challenges of the GED

Benefits of Studying the GED

Logistical Challenges

Alternatives

Analysis

Conclusions and Recommendations

Positionality and Thanks

References

POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION IN MYANMAR AND THE GED: QUALIFICATION VERSUS EDUCATION Katie Julian and Nang Lao Kham | July 2024 Contents 0. Abstract 1 1. Methodology 2 2. The GED and Myanmar: Some Background 3 3. Key Findings 6 3.1 Instructional and Learning Challenges of the GED 7 3.2 Benefits of Studying the GED 8 3.3 Logistical Challenges 10 3.4 Alternatives 11 4. Analysis 13 5 Conclusions and Recommendations 16 6 Positionality and Thanks 21 7 References 22 POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION IN MYANMAR AND THE GED: QUALIFICATION VERSUS EDUCATION 0. ABSTRACT The pathway to university has long been a challenge for many students from Myanmar. Graduates from schooling run by ethnic-based education providers (EBEPs) outside government-controlled areas, or migrant learning centers (MLCs) in neighboring countries are unable to get recognition for their K-12 schooling. This has exacerbated since the 2021 military coup, with hundreds of thousands of students unable to access any form of government-recognized basic education. One common route to international universities is via the US General Educational Development (GED) Certificate, which is widely accepted as an entrance qualification in Thailand and other regional institutions. In recent years, a number of online and face to face programs have established GED tuition programming. In this paper, we discuss some of the issues involved in teaching and studying for this qualification, and assess some of the alternatives, with a particular focus on educational programming designed by post-secondary providers catering to the contextualized and changing educational needs of students within their constituencies. We argue for the establishment of a university entrance qualification combining quality assurance and contextualized content options, recognized by international tertiary education providers. Input into this paper comes from interviews undertaken between May-July 2023, with students enrolled in or graduated from GED programs, teachers and managers involved in education sectors targeting Myanmar students currently living in Thailand, and the researchers’ personal and professional experiences working in education on the Thai/Myanmar border over the last three decades. Sources referred to in this paper discuss a range of related topics, from analysis of and access to higher education prior to and since Covid-19 and the 2021 Myanmar military coup to education planning and implementation amongst ethnic and community-based education providers, migrant learning centersand online educational initiatives. POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION IN MYANMAR AND THE GED: 1. METHODOLOGY Focus group discussions (FGDs) and Key informant (KI) interviews were conducted between June-August 2023, with current and former students, teachers, and managers of GED preparation programs: █ Six students currently studying in-person post-secondary institutions on the Thai/ Myanmar border. (FDG 1, 2) █ Two teachers and one former teacher instructing GED-focused curriculum in online and in-person post-secondary institutions on the Thai/Myanmar border.(KI 1-3) █ Two graduates of GED preparation programs and university scholarship recipients currently working in education in Myanmar and the Thai-Myanmar border (KI 4, 5) █ Three education managers-principalsand academic coordinators-of face to face and online GED preparation programs targeting students throughout Myanmar and on Myanmar’s border (KI 6-8) Time and communication constraints mean that quantitative data on numbers of programs and students currently teaching and learning GED curriculum, how many go on to sit the test, and pass rates of test-takers was outside the scope of this paper. That data will provide useful material for future analysis. QUALIFICATION VERSUS EDUCATION 2. THE GED AND MYANMAR: SOME BACKGROUND The General Education Development qualification is recognized as equivalent to

FAQs

Why is university access difficult for many students from Myanmar?

Students educated through ethnic-based education providers or migrant learning centers often cannot receive recognition for their K-12 schooling. This difficulty intensified after the 2021 military coup, leaving hundreds of thousands of students without access to government-recognized basic education.

How does the GED work for applicants pursuing tertiary study?

The GED is recognized as equivalent to a US high school diploma and includes four separate examinations covering social studies, science, mathematics, and reasoning through (English) language arts. Each test is taken separately, and unsuccessful tests can be retaken within a defined 60-day period.

What challenges and benefits does the paper identify in studying the GED?

The findings address instructional and learning challenges, benefits of GED study, and logistical challenges that affect how students prepare and participate. The paper also evaluates alternatives to GED pathways for different learner contexts.

Sep 14, 2026

Uploaded by Himbo

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