The Ministry of Education will add the study of information and communication technology (ICT) to the school curriculum in the future, a capacity building workshop reported in Vientiane yesterday.
“We don't yet teach ICT in primary or secondary schools in Laos ; so far it's only being taught in private schools. Today we're gathering to learn how to develop a master plan for adding the subject into the general curriculum,” the Director General of the Planning and Cooperation Department, Mr Ouam Sengchandavong, said at the opening of the workshop.
The ministry invited administration officials from schools around Vientiane to the workshop, aimed at policymakers, planners and practitioners.
It was held in the ICT building of the Science, Technology and Environment Agency from October 23-26.
“The ministry will pay closer attention to human resource development, in accordance with goals to reform the national education system. This is a vital aspect of national socio-economic development,” said Mr Ouam.
The Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development from the Republic of Korea contributed its experiences to the workshop through the Korea Education and Research Information Service, along with UNESCO experts.
“Participants will learn how to use software created by UNESCO experts to develop a master plan,” an Education Statistics and IT Centre official, Mr Phoukhaolka Sacklokham, said.
He said that after the workshop the participants will gather again in the future to discuss how they can formulate the master plan in one year.
Mr Ouam believes it will be finished next year, after which it will undergo a trial run in schools in Vientiane and in the provinces.
“Learning about ICT will be a great benefit for younger students, as they will be able to study the subject from primary school to university,” he said.
