Yangon, Sep 10 (IANS): The Myanmar government has approved opening of 20 private schools following the enactment of the Private School Law since last year-end, Xinhua reported.

According to The Flower News Journal, the 20 private schools were among the 67 which had sought permission from the Ministry of Education for opening.

Most of the private schools are from the Yangon region, it added. Other six private schools were allowed for pilot run for one year.

According to official statistics, the number of state-operated basic education schools in the country has increased to 41,000 where a total of over 8.1 million students are pursuing education under the guidance of over 270,000 teachers.

In the latest step, the ministry has ensured that similar subjects shall be taught according to the curriculum prescribed in state schools, while allowing other additional subjects to be also taught so as to eliminate private tuitions.

To mobilise the teachers in the country to serve the education sector, a private teachers' union has been formed to seek knowledge and experience from foreign experts to help raise private teachers' qualification to international standard.