Characteristics of School Health Education in Myanmar

Focus on the New Subject ‘Life Skill’

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to outline the characteristics of school health education in Myanmar, with special focus on the recent introduction of the new subject ‘Life Skill (Ba-wa Twe Tha)’ within the school curriculum. Also examined is the role played by international agencies in establishing the school health program there.
Although many studies have been carried out on school health education in developing countries, little is known about how such programs take root in different cultures, and how specific cultural hazards are addressed. Typical of this trend, for example, are the studies conducted by the World Bank, which have mainly focused on economic efficiency.