Myanmar Teachers' Federation
On May 28, 2014, the All Myanmar Teachers' Federation (MTF) was formed, having been set up on an interim basis in 2013. It was formed on the basis of University Teachers' Associations (UTAs), so that all teachers across Myanmar who earn their living by teaching can freely join the federation and work for teachers, for students, and for the improvement of future Myanmar education.
At its founding it had nine executive members, 20 organizers and more than 700 members. Its first conference was held on May 2–3, 2015, at Hotel Hazel in Mandalay, and the federation's constitution was approved on May 3, 2015. Under Chapter (1), Section (1) of that constitution, its name was confirmed as the Myanmar Teachers' Federation.
The MTF's second conference was held in Nyaung-U, Bagan, on July 8–9, 2017. Its third conference was planned to be held via Zoom on February 28, 2021, but could not take place. On April 27, 2021, a central executive meeting was held; under its decision, as the executive's term had ended and a new executive could not be elected because a conference could not be convened, it announced the dissolution of the 61-member executive committee on April 28, 2021. It then announced on April 29, 2021, that it had formed and assigned an 11-member All Myanmar Teachers' Federation Interim Central Committee to (1) connect with MTF township branches for the time being, (2) continue supporting teachers and education staff taking part in the civil disobedience movement (CDM), and (3) coordinate with the interim National Unity Government (NUG).
On February 1, 2021, the MTF issued a statement strongly objecting to and condemning the arrest and detention of the State Counsellor, the President, union ministers, state and regional chief ministers and ministers, influential political leaders and student leaders, as this derailed the democratic path and delayed efforts for the country's development. On February 7, 2021, it issued a statement on the CDM movement, calling for "teachers and staff across the country to take part in the CDM movement from February 8". On February 22, 2021, it issued a statement on the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), referring to the provisions in Chapter (4), Section (10) of the Civil Service Law on civil servants prioritizing the interests of the state and citizens and respecting the public. On March 31, 2021, it announced its full support for the Federal Democracy Charter and that it would follow the administration of the National Unity Government. Then, on December 20, 2021, together with the General Strike Committee of Basic and Higher Education (GSCBHE), the Representative Committee of University Teachers' Associations (RC of UTAs), the Basic Education Workers' Unions – Strike Committee (BEWU-SC), the Basic Education General Strike Committee (BEGSC), the Myanmar Teachers' Federation (MTF) and the Technological Teachers' Federation (TTF), it formed the Education Coordination Committee.
The Federal Education Coordination Network, in which the MTF takes part, organized and held the one-year Spring Revolution CDM Education Staff Conference on January 25–26, 2022. On March 27, 2022, it announced that, to boost and strengthen CDM movements through cooperation between education and health CDM forces and to better support CDM staff's needs, it had formed the CDM Movement and Struggle Promotion Cooperation Committee so that organizations working on CDM affairs with common goals can join together.
On August 24, 2022, the Federal Democratic Education Coordination Network (FDECN), which includes the MTF, joined the black ribbon movement "Opposing Prison Violence, Unlawful Killings and the Death Penalty for Political Prisoners, and Standing with the Struggles Inside Prisons". On January 11, 2023, it also jointly issued, with other partner organizations, a statement urging the CDM Policy to be approved as soon as possible.
The MTF is also a member organization of the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC).
References
1. https://www.facebook.com/people/Myanmar-Teachers-Federation/100066260394798/
Related updates
The Vigorous of Spring Mass Movement
After the military coup by a terrorist military group on February 1, 2021, since the first week of February, anti-coup public strikes have taken place across the country in various forms. They opposed the military coup with non-violent movements such as Protesting, Cacerolazo, Red Ribbon Movement and the CDM movement. On February 22, 22 days after the military coup, the "22222" mass strike was held, and millions of people across the country protested against the military coup.