A/HRC/19/67
throughout the country, but particularly in ethnic border areas. Concerns regarding the
availability and accessibility of education and health care were specifically highlighted, as
was the need for the teaching of ethnic minority languages in schools in minority areas.
49.
The 2011 Human Development Report ranked Myanmar 149th out of 187 countries,
down from 132nd in 2010. An analysis of the development situation in Myanmar prepared
by the United Nations country team shows that poverty and food insecurity remain two of
the most pressing challenges. A recent survey conducted by the United Nations
Development Programme, in cooperation with the Ministry of Planning and Economic
Development, the United Nations Children’s Fund and the Swedish International
Development Agency, found that Chin State remains the poorest, with 73.3 per cent of
the people below the poverty line; Rakhine State, with a rate of 43.5 per cent, was second.
The nationwide Integrated Household Living Conditions Assessment of 2010 indicated that
Chin, Shan, Kachin, Kayah and Rakhine States suffered from a relatively high incidence of
food poverty. The food security situation in Chin State is of particular concern owing to
crop failures and a significant reduction in yield in 2011. The situation in the southern areas
is deteriorating and available data indicate that malnutrition levels are above emergency
thresholds.
50.
There has been some recent progress in the area of health, as shown by, for example
an increase in life expectancy and reductions in the infant and maternal mortality rates. The
Government has also taken measures such as the adoption of the National Child Health
Strategic Plan (2010 – 2014) and the National Reproductive Health Strategic Plan (2009 –
2013). Nonetheless, there are significant disparities between regions and groups in access to
and quality of health services, particularly affecting ethnic minorities and communities in
border areas. While the Special Rapporteur notes the Government’s intention to increase
spending in the health sector over the coming fiscal year, including increased health
personnel numbers and medical supplies and improved disease prevention measures, the
proposed increase would only amount to two per cent of the overall Government budget.
51.
There has also been some progress in the area of education, including improvements
in the initial enrolment rate in primary school and gender parity in enrolment in primary
and secondary schools. The Special Rapporteur also notes that the Government is proposing
to increase spending in education from the current two to four per cent of the overall
budget. He was informed by the Deputy Minister for Education that the Government is
making efforts to upgrade the quality of education, increase access (including in border
areas) and improve the social status of teachers (including through increased salaries).
Human rights education was introduced to secondary education in 2004. The teaching of
ethnic minority languages would be encouraged, in particular as part of extra-curricular
activities.
52.
In its concluding observations on the third and fourth periodic reports submitted by
Myanmar,2 the Committee on the Rights of the Child expressed concerns relating to, inter
alia, the allocation of only 0.9 per cent of GDP to education; the limited length of
compulsory education (which ends at fifth grade); the low primary school enrolment, the
high repetition and drop-out rates at a very early stage and the disparity in access to
education among different states and divisions; the payment by families of indirect costs
and the low salary of teachers; the shortage of teachers and schools, especially in rural areas
and regions affected by armed conflict; and the absence of teaching in languages other than
Myanmar. The Special Rapporteur encourages the Government to pay special attention to
the implementation of these recommendations.
2
12
CRC/C/MMR/CO/3-4.
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