Korea gives boost to Lao schools with new textbooks
The government of the Republic of Korea is supporting the development and production of Grade 12 textbooks in Laos and has allocated US$1 million towards the initiative
So far, 523,345 books have been produced, including 507,100 12th grade student textbooks and 16,245 teachers' handbooks, at a cost of US$669,633.
The Ministry of Education and Sports has distributed the textbooks and teachers' manuals across the country, aiming to ensure they reach the hands of students and teachers as promptly as possible.
On behalf of the government of the Republic of Korea, the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Laos, Mr Lee Gun Tae, on Monday officially handed over some of the textbooks to Minister of Education and Sports Dr Phankham Viphavanh.
Resident Representative of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in Vientiane, Mr Kwon Young-eui, and other senior officials were also present at the event.
The US$1 million in funding provided by Korea will also go towards the purchase of other educational supplies.
Dr Phankham said the Korean government's support for the development and production of textbooks coincides with the education reform plan to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and Education for All by 2015.
“The development and production of 12th grade textbooks is a most essential contribution by the Korean government, and will help to improve the quality of Lao education,” he said.
The Ministry of Education and Sports hopes the student textbooks and teachers' manuals will prove to be useful in both public and private schools.
As part of national education reforms, Laos added a 12th year to the school curriculum in academic year 2010-11. Currently, there are over 46,000 students enrolled in the final year of school across the country (Grade 7 of secondary school).
Prior to the publication of the new books, a total of 700,000 textbooks already existed but this additional print run will enable every student to have the books they need.
