Basic education for ethnic children has been improved in Oudomxay province

Plan International enhanced equal access to basic education and assisted school readiness for young ethnic children within 30 villages in Oudomxay province with a series of interventions in the past years.
The handover ceremony was held on September 13, 2022, Kham Pre-Primary School, was one of nine schools that Plan International Laos has constructed, benefiting a total of 3,000 children in the next decade.
Plan International Laos’ Basic Education for Ethnic Students (BEES) Project handed over the last three pre-primary school buildings out of nine to young ethnic children in Pakbaeng district, Oudomxay province, represented by Ms Carol Mortensen, Country Director of Plan International Laos and Mr Maichoy Phetthavong, Director of Pakbaeng District Education and Sports.

Mr Maichoy Phetthavong, Director of Pakbaeng District Education and Sports received the handover note of new school buildings from the representatives of the Embassy of Japan and Ms Carol Mortensen, the Country Director of Plan International Laos.

In Oudomxay province, the majority population is non-Lao speakers from different ethnic groups – approximately 89 percent of the population – making quality early education as school readiness for ethnic children necessary for child development.
With financial support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Plan International commenced the BEES Project in Pakbaeng district in December 2019. The BEES Project improved the quality of education and school readiness of ethnic children in the district.
In parallel with assisting young children, the BEES Project strengthened the capacity of parents, school teachers, school principals, and village volunteers. The limit of teachers’ training caused the low quality of teaching, lack of knowledge about the curriculum, lack of techniques to teach non-Lao speakers for instance.
“Joining the pre-primary school training that Plan International arranged helped improve skills of teaching and working with juvenile learners, creating simple learning materials, the calendar that students can learn about the dates, months, and years from it, for instance. I am happy for children who are learning and about to learn in the new buildings, it is a convenient and child-friendly space, and facilities, teaching and learning materials, and toys,” expressed Ms Chitsamai Khanthalong, a 27-year-old from Oudomxay province.
A recent survey by Plan International and World Bank revealed that 45 percent of parents and caregivers in northern Laos were not able to read a short sentence in the Lao language. This challenge stems from the fact that many households are ethnic and rarely speak the Lao language at home. For young students, this creates a significant barrier to learning when starting their primary education journey.
“Regularly, we rarely communicate in the Lao language at home, communication between my family members and others in the community I do it in Khmu language, it is my native language and easier. I speak the Lao language when joining the village meeting or talking to people from the district town,” shared Ms. Nouth, a 21-year-old mother to two sons and one daughter from Oudomxay province.
Early childhood education is one of the most cost-effective and equitable interventions. Having close stimulative, and responsive communication with adults serves to develop children’s ability in many aspects. Provision of learning and teaching materials, strengthening teachers’ capacity and encouraging parents and caregivers to increase their engagement in children’s education contribute to developing children’s cognitive, social, and emotional development, which will have lasting impact in their life.
“Plan International has worked in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Sport, to support the Government of Lao to achieve its education sector development plans since we commenced our operation in 2007. This project has supported the government of Laos to achieve its Education Sector Development Plan (ESSDP) 2021-2025.
Education is one of the significant sectors that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of Japan has granted and contributed to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals of the government of Lao PDR. Since 2016, the MOFA of Japan has funded education projects in Bokeo and Oudomxay provinces through Plan International Laos.
“Japan attaches great importance to assistance for education around the world including Laos, since education is an essential area for human security in the sense that it enables children to forge their own path in lives. Japan has invested US$25 million in Laos in the past five years to support primary education, such as enhancing teaching quality for teachers and improving teaching and learning mathematics, however our supports can only be realised through partnerships with the international community including NGOs, not solely the government of Japan”, said Mr Kobayashi Kenichi, Ambassador of Japan in Laos.
In the Pakbaeng district of Oudomxay province, the BEES project is approaching its closure in December 2022. This project completed the construction of nine pre-primary schools equipped with facilities, school toilets, and handwashing stations.
The project participants gained knowledge and skills in teaching the pre-primary school courses, 10-week summer pre-primary course, Lao-non-Lao course, gender equality, and positive disciplines that directly benefit young ethnic children to prepare for primary school.
“I love playing games and drawing flowers with my friends. Nice and colourful cards and books interest me, and I understand when my teacher teaches new vocabularies like kinds of fruits and colours in the Lao language,” Him, a 5-year-old girl Pre-primary schoolgirl from Oudomxay province.
Plan International believes that all these school buildings, facilities, learning, and teaching materials will last long. Knowledge and skills that school teachers, principals, parents, and caregivers acquired will be applied to assist school readiness, and overcome the language barrier and other challenges for young children, especially ethnic students, as long as required.
--Source: Plan International Laos

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update September 15, 2022)