Save the Children Korea backs education in Laos

Article from Vientiane Times newspaper (February 07, 2015)

Save the Children Korea has provided support for a project on bridging the gap to improve access and quality in lower secondary education for disadvantaged children in rural areas of Borikhamxay, Luang Prabang and Xayaboury provinces.

The grant funding of over US$1 million has been given through Save the Children International to the Lao PDR.

The three-year project is set to be implemented by the Ministry of Education and Sports and Save the Children International to the Lao PDR.

Officials from the two parties signed a memorandum of understanding on the project in Vientiane yesterday.

The signatories were the ministry's Director General of the Secondary Education Department, Dr Sisouk Vongvichit, and Save the Children International's Country Director, Mr Olivier Franchi.

Over 50,000 students in the target areas will benefit from the project, especially 16,000 students in 30 villages in Khamkeut, Borikhan and Viengthong districts of Borikhamxay province, according to the Secondary Education Department.

Under the agreement, the project will improve training for lower secondary school teachers, and provide basic infrastructure, including the construction or rehabilitation of 10 schools.

Some of the funding will be used for the construction of dormitories and improving hygiene and sanitation for local children.

The money will also be used to provide scholarships for around 90 students, mostly for rural girls, as well as to buy educational supplies for schoolchildren.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Deputy Minister of Education and Sports Ms Sengdeuane Lachanthaboun said this assistance will help children in rural areas to have access to better education, hygiene and sanitation.

The Party and government view education as a top priority and have placed it at the centre of human resource development on the way to achieving the Millennium Development Goals this year and moving Laos out of Least Developed Country status by 2020.

Ms Sengdeuane said the project was consistent with overall Lao government policy and will strongly contribute to human resource development as well as respond to the demands of socio-economic development.

Mr Franchi said Save the Children will provide both technical and financial assistance to support the core business of the education ministry through this project.

Save the Children will also work side by side with the ministry to develop the curriculums, teachers and schools needed to ensure that Lao children have access to a better educational environment.

By Phaisythong Chandara 
(Latest Update February 07, 2015)