Burma’s ruling junta has further tightened the procedure for selection of scholars going abroad for further studies after reforming the selection committee.

Junta officials, during a meeting on December 27, 2007, reform the selection committee of scholarship programme by filling in more officials, with the level of directors, from several government ministries and departments.

According to the meeting Memo, scholars who are currently doing courses abroad would require returning home upon completing their courses and would only be allowed to resume further studies after the completion of serving the government for 3 years.

A Burmese student who is currently studying abroad under the scholarship programme said the move is a big blow for student who wish to continue further studies, as students would cross the age limits to continue their studies.

“By taking a break for three years in service most students would be overage to continue further studies. As most Burmese students going for scholarship are nearly overage,” the student, who wish to remain anonymous for fear of reprisal told Mizzima.

According to the Memo, a copy of which is send to Mizzima by a source close to the military establishment, all students going for the programme will have to be guaranteed by their spouses or their family members, who will require to pay the sum of 5 million kyat (USD 3846) incase the student fail to return home after the programme.

“This is a kind of ransom. The government is making the students’ family to sign and would not allow any family members to leave the country as a ransom against the student from staying in the host countries,” the student said.

The memo, signed by secretary of the Military Government’s cabinet Col Thant Shin, also imposed restrictions on women scholars to go for further studies alone but said, “at least two women should be send together for a scholarship programme.”

The Memo also said that the previous selection committee formed in 1988, shall no longer be effective but recognizes the reformed committee with its new sets of criteria.

“This is only shows that the government does not care for the education of its people but are only concern for their power,” the student said.

According the student, most scholarship programmes for Burmese students are funded or offered by the host countries or non-governmental organizations.

“Except for Russia and China, the government does not spend a penny on the students to go for scholarship programmes. But for Russia and China, they [the junta] sponsors military officers to go for training,” added the student.

However, another student, who is preparing for the scholarship programme in Rangoon told mizzima, “rules and regulations are merely set, there are no officials from any department who is abiding strictly. Rules and regulation could be reflex if we can bribe them.”