Fear among students about the consequences of involvement in political activities is hampering their involvement in debates on the draft National Education Law, a member of the student union at Yangon Computer University told Mizzima on September 10.
Ko Ye Zar Ni Tun was referring to the cancellation because low turnout of a debate on the draft law at the Bahan Township university earlier the same day.
The development was not surprising because many students were aware of the suppression of student activism under the former military government, he said.
A small group of students who protested outside the campus after the debate was cancelled held placards critical of the draft law, including one which read: "We don't want experimental education".
An executive committee member of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions, Ko Di Nyein Lin, told Mizzima that other possible reasons for the low turnout were a lack of familiarity about the proposed law among students and the debate having coincided with examinations.
