For a country that birthed a glorious ancient civilization, threw off the shackles of colonialism and went through decades of civil strife and dictatorship, Myanmar could probably do with a few scholars of history.
But, in the past few days, social media has been abuzz with the news that not a single fresher at the country’s largest center of higher education studies the subject.
The intake from Yangon University’s 2015-2016 academic year, which ends in October, is made up of 50 students of more than 20 subjects. Applied psychology was much in-demand. (Make of that what you will.) History, it turns out, less so.
“History is a very useful subject,” an unnamed staffer at the school told Popular News Journal. “For example, a state leader can lead only if he knows about history.”
In some ways, Myanmar’s higher education system is similar to the West’s. Students must gain high grades to access top institutions. Those with lower grades have little chance of entering medical school, for example.
Rote-learning dominates, however, even at higher levels.
The dearth of history students at Yangon University caused ripples on social media, with users lamenting the decline of the subject and suggesting possible reasons.
“I was shocked that there is no students to learn history,” wrote a Facebook user named Kyaw Tun.
“Young people are following after IT and Management,” wrote Kyaw Soe Hlaing.
Komgmg Khaing suggested: “The reason is that there are uncertain job opportunities, even after they graduate.”
“It is an interesting issue that there are no students learning history,” wrote Hla Htu Too Htut. “But there will be a solution.”
The Norwegian government is offering bursarys to Myanmar students of history. Recipients get more than $100 per month for one academic year.
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