The government has approved a budget of approximately 6.5 billion kip for the Ministry of Education to enable lower secondary schools nationwide to introduce an additional year of schooling in the upcoming academic year.
However, the ministry says the figure remains insufficient to put the national education reform policy into practice.
It is now planning to s eek cooperation from local authorities, parents and organisations to help the central government to overcome the educational budget shortfall.
Under the plan, 2.5 billion kip has been allocated for construction of 1,224 classrooms nationwide to accommodate about 36,000 lower secondary students who are scheduled to receive another year of schooling in accordance with national education reform policy.
However, officials said the funds remained insufficient.
Therefore, the ministry has decided to spend the allocation on the purchase of 74,000 zinc roofing sheets and distribute them to lower secondary schools.
It is aiming to seek assistance from local authorities and residents to take responsibility for supplying the remainder of construction materials.
The move to add an extra school year forms part of the government's policies to reform the national education system, which will require formal school students to study for a total of 12 years.
It is believed that students will be able to gain from a further year of study, bringing the nation more closely in-line with others in the region and internationally.
At present, Lao students study for five years in primary school, three years in lower secondary school and another three year in upper secondary school.
Under the plan, lower secondary school education will increase to four years, with the additional year to be added after the pre-existing third grade.
Of the remaining funds, the ministry will spend 2.5 billion kip to train 2,963 teachers nationwide so they will be able to implement new school curricula effectively.
In addition, the ministry will also use 1.5 billion kip to print new school text books.
The cabinet early this month approved a Ministry of Education plan to recruit 4,800 teachers in the 2009-10 fiscal year.
However the ministry said teacher numbers remained insufficient when viewed in accordance with real demand in the country.
To introduce the new grade in lower secondary school, the ministry says it requires a further 9,327 educational officials including 8,790 teachers.
At present, there are 60,183 educational officials including 54,651 teachers.
The remainder are education administrators and support staff.
Approximately 1,159 edu-cation officials leave their jobs annually for a number of reasons including retirement.
Another of the challenges for the government in reforming the education system is acquiring funds for the purchase of teaching aids which can help students to explore real experiences in their studies of practical subjects such as chemistry, physics and computer science.
At present, only a small number of schools in major cities are equipped with science or computer laboratories, or access to the internet.
The ministry of education has to invest some millions dollars to build the dormitory of teacher and construct the new school in some villages in the rural areas. the Gov should reform the salary of teachers who work far away from home and provide them the transportation tools to travel from school, place to the town.
the Ministry of education is planing to add more a grade ( 1 year) in High school and now the parents of student must think more how to support their children due to the cost of living increases and the economic recession in the world.i think it's not necessary to add ( a grade) in high school. we just need to improve what we have now, such as improving the system in Primary school and middle school for instance.
It is not only the need of Ministry of Education but it is the need of the Education System itself, in the former time, the lower secondary system has four years, due to the lack of teachers and to speeding up the education system, one year of primary school and one another year of secondary school had been deleted, now we have to catch up the lost times and knowledges to be equal to international education system, in the same time creating new sustainable jobs for educated people, it is a great thing to strengthen the education system for our children. The Ministry of Education has done a great job.
If we dont spend big proportion of national budget and pay attention as much as possible on education we will still be lag behind like this for a long time.....
education is funamental eliment of national construction, strong education system mean sustainable development for us in future...
ANYBODY KNOW WHAT IS FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE YEAR 2009-2010 OF A EDUCATION DEPARTMENT BUDGET?? WHY DO THEY NEED A STUDENTS PARENT HELP OUT FOR THE SCHOOL BUDGET?? WHERE ALL THE AID FUND?? AND WHO IS EDUCATION MINISTRY?? WHO'S INCHARGE?? A PUPLIC SCHOOL EDUCATION IS SUPPOSE TOBE FREE FOR GRADE I- GRADE 12..ESPECIALLY IN SOCIALIST COUNTRY LIKE LAOS.
It is aiming to seek assistance from local authorities and residents to take responsibility for supplying the remainder of construction materials.
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Over-all the news is good given its aim to improve education system in Laos. However, how can the government expect residents to cover the deficit in construction materials when they can hardly put food on their table, especially those in the rural areas?
Should the authorities find other ways to cover the deficit instead?
Before they spend $ on increasing the no. of years of basic education, they should first tackle the problem of a high percentage of rural Lao children not even completing 5 years of primary school, & even fewer who can complete lower secondary education (up to Mor. 3).
The situation shown in the 3 photos are considered OK...there are still schools in Laos that don't even have proper walls & desks, & where most kids can't afford school uniforms. I've even seen one school that had zero walls, a tiny lower secondary school for less than 10 students in Oudomxay province.
In the poorest districts, I'd like the Ministry of Education to consider dropping all their rules on school uniforms. It'll be easier for parents to afford education for their kids.
Teachers who are willing to teach in rural areas are supposed to receive a higher pay...but many of them don't receive the extra $ (where has it gone to?). They're still earning ~USD40/month...when they actually receive their pay - quite often they have to wait months before they get their salary. A few years ago, VTE Times reported that it's because the Ministry of Finance was late (by half a year!) in transferring $ to the Ministry of Education...but till now the situation hasn't improved?
Another problem lies with the Teacher Training Colleges. In places like Luang Prabang, so many places in the Teacher Training College are taken up by students who have no intention of becoming teachers, they are just using the college to get a relatively cheap college education/English diploma in order to join the tourism industry or work in some other field. Unless things are changed, you can spend more on training teachers but still end up with not enough teachers.
i'm not familiar with the system of education in laos, but similar moves have been suggested in many other countries. i think an additional year isn't exactly the answer to better education - it is Improvement of the System. In short, Quality more than Quantity.
