Student leaders met on Thursday with Burma’s opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi at her home in Naypyidaw where they discussed the students’ demands for amending the National Education Law.

Representing the National Network for Education Reforms (NNER) and the Committee for Democracy Education Movement, the students presented their 11-point list of demands, which includes: calls for decentralising decision-making; permission to form teachers’ and students’ unions; and the adoption of mother-language curricula in ethnic areas.

“Mostly we spoke with Auntie about the 11-point plan that we put forward to parliament, calling for changes to the National Education Law,” said Zayar Lwin, a student from the Economics University in Rangoon. “We believe that she viewed our movement as constructive and positive.”

He said that Suu Kyi asked them about their agreement to end the protests, which have continued around the country while negotiations take place.

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“We told her that we did not make any promise to the government to end the protest and that we have only agreed to speak with the protestors on 14 February to discuss whether to continue the demonstrations or not,” he said.

He added that Suu Kyi told the students she could not comment on whether their decision was right or wrong, and that she also explained her party’s reasons for dismissing Central Committee member Dr Thein Lwin who has been a leading voice for the NNER in meetings with the government.