Lao Voices

Vientiane to raise education standards

The Vientiane Education Department will further expand and improve the basic system of education in primary and secondary schools in Vientiane in the 2008-2009 academic year.

The strategy will focus on three main points: expanding educational opportunities for children, improving the quality of education, and strengthening administration.

There are many problems both in private and public schools, as the knowledge level of teachers is often low. Some students do not pay attention in class, do not study and sometimes do not even come to school at all, Deputy Minister of Education Lytou Bouapao told Vientiane Times yesterday.

“Students use drugs and spend a lot of their time doing nothing. Low education levels are also common in some rural and remote areas,” he said.

Mr Lytou said some children between the ages of 6 and 10 do not have an opportunity to attend school and remain uneducated. He said educators need to improve the education system by holding courses to upgrade the professionalism of teachers, encouraging better preparation before teaching and providing better learning materials so that there are enough supplies for schools.

Department Director Chandy Phommabouth said the department holds annual workshops, aiming to identify problems and solutions regarding primary school failure rates, evaluate the education over the past year, and to continue expanding educational networks in kindergarten, primary and secondary schools.

Over the past five years, the education sector has developed in both quantitative and qualitative terms, Mr Chandy said, and efforts were being made to develop primary education and vocational training with a particular emphasis on isolated areas.

There are also plans to provide teachers with training on classroom skills, he added.

“The education system needs to progress so that we have solid management and policies that are compliant with international standards. If we can solve the problems, we will have a future generation of good workers to develop our country,” Mr Chandy said.

The ministry is currently developing education in line with the government’s strategic vision for the next 12 years. The ministry’s recent focus has been on the development of teachers, curriculums and teaching and learning materials.

“We will strengthen the education system as the cornerstone of a human resource development strategy focused on boosting labour productivity,” Mr Chandy added.

By PHAISYTHONG CHANDARA
19, 2008
Vientiane Times - Vientianetimes.org.la