The smartest students from across the country met yesterday to sit for the 19 th National Best Students' Exams in Vientiane.

The 64 students were examined on subjects including maths, physics, chemistry and literature. The results will be announced on Friday.

They came from 16 provinces, every province except for Phongsaly (where students did not meet the standards set by the Ministry of Education).

The Department of General Education's Director General, Mr Khamhoung Sacklokham, said the exams aimed to give students the opportunity to showcase their talents, knowledge, abilities and creativity in these subjects.

Another objective is to encourage the best students in these subjects to study hard and work towards international competitions. The Education Ministry has sent students to these competitions in the past, but they were not successful in winning prizes.

Mr Khamhoung said one major goal was to develop the general education sector, especially at the secondary school level, to make it more effective and enjoyable for students.

“The exams can improve the learning and teaching in schools by encouraging students to be active in their studies and also helping teachers be more effective. This is in line with the ministry's National Education System Reform Strategy, which is released this month and will be in place until 2015,” Mr Khamhoung said.

Students sat selection exams in their provinces and the best were chosen by provincial education departments to sit for the national exams.

Mr Khamhoung said to achieve the ministry's goal the education department must strengthen curriculum and teaching quality while also forming special classes for talented students.

He said the ministry had been trying to improve the teaching methodologies, implementation of the new secondary education curriculum for 2007-2008 and the publication of sufficient textbooks for secondary students.

“The plans also require capacity building of personnel through training programmes, with modern teaching techniques to be introduced at secondary school level. The new curriculum will be implemented in 2009-2010,” Mr Khamhoung said.

A 16-year-old student from Pakxe Secondary School , Champassak province, Mr Somphonxay Phommaphakdy, sat for the exam in maths. He said would try to do his best and hoped to be the one of the three best students in maths.

The Department of General Education hosted the exams, which were financially supported by the ministry and provincial education departments.

By PHAISYTHONG CHANDARA
Vientianetimes