Myanmar gov't agrees to hold quartet talks on education law amendment

Myanmar's government delegation on Wednesday reached an agreement with protesting student representatives to hold a quartet talks on amending the parliament- approved National Education Law, local media reported.

The demand was raised during a meeting in Nay Pyi Taw between the government delegation, headed by Minister at the President's Office U Aung Min, and 10 representatives from the student side.

The quartet talks, demanded to be held on Feb. 1, are to include the government, the parliament, Myanmar National Network for Education Reform (NNER) and Leading Committee for Students March Protest.

The students vowed to continue their protest march to Yangon from all directions amid the negotiation process.

Protest march of hundreds of students started on Jan. 21 from Mandalay to Yangon. When the march reached the entry gate of Taungtha town on Tuesday, a stand-off took place between the protesting students and the police force, stopping the students' march forward.

However, the entry gate of Taungtha was opened by the police force later on the day allowing them to spend the night in the town after the protesting students agreed to talk with the government.

Students have staged demonstrations since September last year against the national education bill passed by the parliament earlier in July of the year.

The protest has later spread from Dagon University in Yangon region to some other universities in Mandalay and Sagaing regions.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education said it will submit a bill to the ongoing parliament session on amending some points in the National Education Law. Endi