Non formal middle school education is being implemented in 29 townships with a total of 2,615 students in the 2025–2026 academic year, Deputy Minister of Education U Nay Myo Hlaing said.

He made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the Non formal middle education Second Semester (Semesters 2, 4 and 6) Coaches’ Capacity Building Course for the 2025–2026 academic year, held on January 7 at the Office of the Department of Non formal education and lifelong education on Pyay Road, Yangon.

The Deputy Minister said arrangements are being made to ensure that those who were unable to complete basic education for various reasons are given opportunities to continue their studies through out-of-school programmes. He noted that the Ministry of Education and Culture is fulfilling its national responsibility by implementing pathways from non-formal education to formal education or technical and vocational education.

Non-formal middle school education has been implemented in 29 townships since 2016 and will continue in the 2025–2026 academic year with 2,615 students, he added.

Teachers involved in non-formal education are provided with annual capacity-building courses similar to those for formal school teachers, under the management of the Department of Non Formal and Lifelong Education and with technical support from the Literacy Support Main Team. The Deputy Minister urged teachers and supervisors attending the training to apply the knowledge and teaching techniques learned to ensure quality education for learners at non-formal education centres and to help nurture them as future assets of the nation.

At the ceremony, the Deputy Minister presented grants to trainee teachers, which were received by the Director General of the Department of Non Formal Education and Lifelong Education. Dr Tin Nyo, Chairman of the Literacy Support Main Team, delivered a welcoming address, and the Director General explained the department’s out-of-school secondary education activities.

The second-semester capacity-building course for trainers (Semesters 2, 4 and 6) for the 2025–2026 academic year will run from January 7 to 16. The opening ceremony was attended by the Deputy Minister, directors general, deputy directors general, the chairman of the Myanmar Curriculum Committee, members of the Literacy Support Main Team, trainers, trainees, teachers implementing non formal education, and invited guests.