Gearing up for the AEC: Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam
This is a follow-up to my August 1 column and covers Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam.
MYANMAR, formerly known as Burma, is a former colony of Great Britain and was once part of India.
It has produced many outstanding leaders, including Aung San – who rose as a hero in the fight for independence but was assassinated in 1947. Another prominent personality was U Thant, who was United Nations secretary-general from 1961 to 1971.
After decades of isolation under a repressive military government since 1962, Myanmar is now slowly moving towards democracy and openness under the influence of Aung San’s daughter Aung San Suu Kyi, whose heroic fight for democracy was documented in the film “Beyond Rangoon” (1995).
During World War II, Japan invaded then-Burma and this occupation was later, dramatically described in the insightful, moving Japanese novel “The Harp of Burma”, which later became a popular Japanese film (1956).
During this period, the country was known as the “rice bowl of Asia” and its economy was considered to have the biggest potential compared to any other country in Southeast Asia.
The biggest issue in the country is the treatment of Rohingya people, though many people see a great deal of potential in the country.
The Philippines
With more than 7,000 islands, the Philippines has a population of 107.7 million people – coming in second to Indonesia. With a high fertility rate of 3.06 children and a population growth of 1.81 per cent annually, its population is expected to double in 39 years.
The country has been under strong colonial forces – first as a colony of Spain and then the United States – and is the only Catholic country in the AEC.
The Philippines’ key national hero is Jose Rizal, who fought for independence against the Spanish. He earned two doctorates – one from Germany and one from Spain – and was known to have mastered 22 languages. He became a national martyr when the Spanish army executed him in 1896.
With its huge population and high levels of unemployment (7.4 per cent) and underemployment (20 per cent), the Philippines is one of the world’s leading exporters of talent. There are some 10.5 million Filipinos living overseas, with as many as 4 million in the US alone. These Filipino expats prop up their country’s economy by making significant financial remittances.
Despite impressive growth under President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, the Philippines faces the challenge of escaping the middle-income trap. It critically needs to diversify its economy, reduce poverty and inequality.
Singapore
In many respects, Singapore is a phenomenal success story. With virtually no natural resources and a small population of 5.6 million, Singapore has become of one of the wealthiest countries in the world.
An exceptional characteristic of Singapore is that 82 per cent of its population lives in high-rise buildings, which helps save large tracts of land to facilitate the greening of the city-state.
Despite its small population, Singapore ranks No 12 in the world in terms of its international exchange with US$270 billion in its treasury, well above that of the United States. Lee Kuan Yew became prime minister in 1959, when it gained independence from Britain, and held the post until 1990, running the country in a dynamic, clean manner.
Singapore has four official |languages, English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil. It adopted a |progressive bilingual educational policy in 1966, with a strong emphasis on the importance of |a mother tongue.
Lee even tried to improve his own fluency in Mandarin, a fact highlighted in a book by Chua Chee Lay.
Contributing to its dynamic economic performance, Singapore has demonstrated excellence in education. In the 2012 PISA international tests, Singapore ranked the highest in problem-solving, second in mathematics and third in science and reading.
Singapore has also launched numerous initiatives, such as “Thinking Schools, Learning Nation” (1997) and “Singapore, a Global Schoolhouse” (2002).
Recently, its emphasis on meritocracy and quality education has been supplemented by a focus on the development of critical and creative thinking.
Vietnam
In many respects Vietnam is a country on the move, particularly in terms of its educational achievements.
In the most recent PISA tests, Vietnam ranked 16th in the world – about the same level as Germany – and a Vietnamese came away with the gold medal at the recent International Mathematics Olympiad.
This country benefits from a strong Confucian tradition that focuses on respect for teachers and high student motivation.
Vietnam’s national hero is Ho Chi Minh, who was a strong advocate for education and man who led a simple, honest life. His life was documented in the insightful biography written by William Duiker in 2000.
Ho Chi Minh, when fleeing the French colonial police, took refuge in Isaan and became fluent in the Thai language. There’s even a village in Northeast Thailand named after him.
Given the quality of its labour force relative to cost, low levels inequality, successful poverty reduction and its proximity to China, Vietnam has a promising future.
With Myanmar and the Philippines’ high potential, Singapore’s economic leadership and Vietnam being a nation on the move, these Asean nations are poised to prosper in the new AEC era.
Gerald W Fry is a professor of International/Intercultural Education at the University of University of Minnesota. He can be reached at [email protected].
