Govt vows to raise standard of education, as new school year begins

The government has promised that it will raise school enrolment rates and tackle student dropouts and teacher shortages to ensure a higher standard of education.
The pledge was delivered by Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone at the start of the new school year on Monday.
Education is the key to successful development, so that citizens have the necessary knowledge and skills to create a high quality workforce that meets the country’s development needs, he said.
Dr Sonexay instructed teachers to be more diligent and conscientious in the performance of their duties and use of the curriculum, and to ensure students gained a deeper knowledge of Lao language, mathematics, and science and technology.
He also advised them to act with integrity and to continually improve their teaching skills and keep up with changes in their profession by adopting new methods of teaching.
At the same time, parents and guardians should ensure that their children and grandchildren attend school and continue classes for as long as possible, Dr Sonexay said.
The Prime Minister also ordered education, science and sports administrators at all levels to shoulder more responsibility in their work and encourage educational institutions to hold regular activities involving sports, the arts, and literature, as well as improving school environments so that more children are encouraged to attend school and take their studies seriously.
The government has attempted to resolve the chronic teacher shortage by providing better conditions for volunteer teachers across the country, and is also encouraging more young people to engage in vocational education, according to a report in the Lao Economic Daily newspaper.
The Minister of Education and Sports, Associate Prof. Dr Phout Simmalavong, said the new school year is very important because it is the last in the ministry’s 5-year development plan for education, science and sports.
The new year offers both opportunities and challenges, he said. In particular, there is a continuing teacher shortage, low school attendance, a high dropout rate, and poor performance on the part of teachers and administrators caused by difficult conditions.
However, the government, through the Ministry of Education and Sports, will make the most of the available resources and give personnel more responsibility in their areas of work.
The ministry will also coordinate with other entities to improve teaching and learning processes so that targets in education, science and sports sectors are met or exceeded, Associate Prof. Dr Phout said.
Yesterday saw schools across the country reopen with a sense of enthusiasm and promise, especially in Vientiane, where many parents accompanied their children to school on the first day of term.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update September 3, 2024)