Australia to Assist Myanmar in Reform Process

Australia will assist Myanmar in its reform process, getting involved in a wide range of sectors including education, health and political reforms, a top Australian government official said last week.
Governor General of Commonwealth of Australia Quentin Bryce, who was on a visit to Myanmar last week, pledged Australia’s assistance for Myanmar’s maternal and child welfare undertakings and farm sector development, encouraging big investment by Australian entrepreneurs.
During her meeting with President Thein Sein she offered to provide scholarships to university students, technical assistance for building capacity of lecturers and teaching aid in basic education schools. She also offered Myanmar access to modern teaching methods and to build schools in rural and border areas of the country.
The pair also discussed expanding women’s employment opportunities and women’s participation in the peace making process. They also touched on efforts for reaching UN Millennium Development Goals.  
On Tuesday last week, President U Thein Sein also met with visiting Governor of New South Wales (NSW) of Commonwealth of Australia Marie Bashir.
The discussion focused on promoting cooperation between Myanmar and NSW, scholarship programmes for Myanmar medical students to study in the province and aid for Myanmar’s health and education.
Prior to the meeting, Myanmar and New South Wales signed a memorandum of understanding between Yangon’s Universities of Medicines-1 and 2 and University of Sydney and Sydney Medical School on cooperation in the education sector.
The MoU covers cooperation in promoting teachers’ skill, students exchange program, doing research with universities and exchange of information and stationery.
In July, Senator and Foreign Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia Bob Carr visited Myanmar, pledging A$100 million grant aid to the country for its education reform.