TheUnion of Myanmar (Burma) gained its independence from the British in 1948. In 1974, following a national referendum, the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma formally came into existence under a new constitution.
The total land area is 676,552 km2 with a population estimated at 40 million in 1989. Only 24 per cent live in urban areas. The country lies in the north-west region of South-East Asia, between the Tibetan plateau and the Malay peninsula.
The government spared no efforts in increasing literacy rates, particularly in rural areas. As a result, the proportion of those over 15 years of age who are able to read and write increased from 60 per cent in 1960 to 66 per cent in the late 1970s. All universities were closed by the military government in 1988 and there are still no signs that Burma's universities will be reopened. Burmese is the official language, but a variety of local languages are spoken among the approximately 25 per cent of the population self-defined members of minority groups.
Burma Broadcasting Service (BBS)
Prome Road
Kamayut PO
Rangoon
Burmese Publishers' Union
146 Bogyoke Market
Rangoon
Ministry of Culture
26/42 Pansoda Street
Rangoon
Ministry of Education
Ministers' Office
Rangoon
Ministry of Information
Ministers' Office
Rangoon
Myanmar National Commission for UNESCO
Department of Higher Education
Ministry of Education
Office of the Ministers
Theinbyu Street
Rangoon
Printing and Publishing Corporation
228 Theibyu Street
Rangoon
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This monograph is based on data from the Culturelink Cultural Policies Data Bank, and on documents collected by the Documentation Centre for Cultural Development and Cooperation, Culturelink, in Zagreb, Croatia.