Report reveals progress, challenges in education
 


A lthough the Ministry of Education is currently meeting many of its objectives and goals set for the younger generation, progress remains slow and, in some areas, lacking; and the goal of providing education for all by 2015 remains a long way off.


Students at the National University of Laos .
Recently released National Education Development plans summarising achievements made during the 2006-2007 school year reveal that Laos will not easily reach its goals.

There is a pressing need to set in motion a number of its planned initiatives, as well as a general progression on education development plans in all areas.

To reach the targets outlined in the Ministry of Education's ‘Education for All' policy, Laos must move faster in increasing not only the number of students enrolled in education systems, but also enhancing the quality of education services.

A report released during the National Education Meeting held in Xieng Khuang province in August highlights both the challenges and achievements made by the Ministry of Education last year.

Speaking at the meeting, the Deputy Minister of Education, Mr Lytou Bouapao, said the report showed that the number of schools, attending students, teachers and educational resources available had increased compared to previous years. But, he said, this is not enough.

The professional development of Lao teachers, educators and officials needs to be accelerated to enable comprehensive improvements.

“Courses for the sustainable improvement of teachers and educators should be held nationwide on weekends and during the summers,” the report states.

This year there are 1,170 state and private pre-primary schools compared to 1,087 in 2006; 8,740 primary schools compared to 8,654 in 2006; and 1,009 lower and upper secondary schools compared to 980 in 2006.

There are now 64 state and private vocational and training schools compared to 62 last year. At present, however, only 15 provinces have vocational schools, and the ministry plans that from next year every province will have such facilities.

There are currently six state-owned universities and institutions compared to three last year, and 49 privately-operated colleges of which eight offer bachelor degree programmes. Last year there were only 30 private colleges.

The report pointed out that the number of students at all levels in both formal and non-formal education has increased except in primary schools, where the drop-out rate was 9.4 percent.

This year the government invested more than 774 billion kip in the education sector, of which about 739 billion kip came from foreign investments.

The ministry received government funds amounting to more than 3.4 percent of the GDP and equal to 15.69 percent of total government expenditure.

There are currently 11 government funded projects underway, costing 1.3 billion kip.

Mr Lytou requested that the government consider recommendations made to increase government funding, to assist in educational development, and allow for the provision of the Education for All quota of new teachers, due over the next eight months.

According to statistics released by the Ministry of Education, this year 86 percent of children in the country attended primary school, 53.6 percent attended secondary school and 34.6 percent of children attended upper secondary school.

The literacy rate amongst young people aged 15 years and over is 75.8 percent. Only 12 percent of children, however, have access to pre-primary education facilities; most of these children live in urban areas.

These findings reveal that 14 percent of children in the primary school age-group did not attend school – a disproportionate number of which are girls, children from various ethnic groups, and the disabled.

Figures aside, educational development should not be a process that simply boosts student numbers; nor should the development process rush to meet goals set for the year 2015.

Instead authorities and educators alike should ensure that the services they provide to young people in Laos are of a sufficient quality. Education is something that should involve all sectors of society, and we must ensure that all students are actually learning in schools, and using what they have learnt in the workplace.


By Soulivan Vongmany
Vientianetimes