SAVE THE CHILDREN SUPPORTS LAO CHILDREN'S EDUCATION

Article from Vientiane Times Or Watch a Video Here

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong 
(Latest Update February 11, 2016)

Save the Children has agreed to support two projects for the Ministry of Education and Sports, aiming to develop education for Lao children.

The first project is entitled ‘School Quality Improvement Programme II in Borikhamxay, Xayaboury and Luang Prabang provinces.'

It aims to improve the quality of education and schools in Laos with funding worth some US$850,000 from Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) and Save the Children Norway.

The second project is entitled ‘Lao Education Access Research and Networking (LEARN) in Luang Prabang province.'

Worth over US$ 1.4 million, the funding has been given to Save the Children in Laos in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Sports to implement the ‘Lao Education Access Research and Networking' or LERN project in three poor districts of Luang Prabang province.

In Vientiane on Wednesday, the MOU signing ceremony for the first project was signed between Director General of the Department of Pre-School and Primary Education under the Ministry of Education and Sports Dr Mithong Souvanvixay and Country Director of Save the Children in Laos, Mr Olivier Franchi.

The same day, the signing ceremony for the second project was signed between Luang Prabang provincial Education and Sports Department Head Mr Eung Losavanh and Mr Olivier Franchi, funded by Dubai Cares and Save the Children.

To be implemented in Borikhamxay, Xayaboury and Luang Prabang provinces, the programme seeks to improve both pre-primary and primary education.

To do so, the programme will improve early childhood education and children's transition to a primary level. It will also enhance sustainable local mechanisms supporting continuous improvement of teaching. It will also increase participation and learning outcomes through an improved environment, and improved education policies and practices that support equitable, affordable and inclusive quality basic education.

The project is expected to reach 288 schools and clusters, 982 teachers and 24, 600 students in three provinces. Save the Children staff will work side-by-side with the Ministry of Education and Sports and the Education and Sports Departments in the three provinces to deliver this programme.

The second project aims to improve the learning environment in pre-primary and primary levels, promote guardians' involvement in education for girls and boys, and improve the quality of education in general.

It is expected to reach almost 19,000 children and nearly 25, 000 guardians in Nambak, Ngoy and Phonthong districts in Luang Prabang province.

Mr Olivier said “Save the Children will ensure that we work with the Lao government, particularly the Ministry of Education and Sports, and children themselves to ensure that disadvantaged children in Laos, especially girls, continue to have access and learn from quality education.”

Under the agreement, the project will enhance teachers' teaching with an approach that is child-centred, gender-responsive, and appropriate for ethnic children who do not speak Lao as their mother tongue.