US$12m investment to improve literacy in Savannakhet schools
Primary school children in six educationally disadvantaged districts of Savannakhet province will now have the opportunity to access education
and nutritious school meals through a new project.
Costing over US$12 million, the education programme is supported by the US Department of Agriculture and will be carried out by Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in Vilabouly, Xepon, Phin, Phalanxay, Atsaphone and Outhoumphone districts. It will run from April 2013 to May 2016.
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed yesterday in Vientiane between Director General of the Primary and Pre-school Education Department, Dr Mithong Souvanvixay, and CRS Country Manager, Mr Bernie Chaves.
Deputy Minister of Education and Sports, Mr Lytou Bouapao, and the US Ambassador to Laos, Ms Karen Stewart, witnessed the signing.
Mr Chaves said that CRS began education development work in Laos in 2006. Last year, the organisation won an award from the US government through the US Department of Agriculture to begin an education and meal programme in Savannakhet province.
“Through this project we will be working with certain government bodies, such as the Ministry of Education and Sports, the Inclusive Education Centre and Savannakhet provincial Education and Sports Department,” he added.
The organisation will be supporting Lao government partners to serve 375 schools in six districts of Savannakhet and will help to serve an estimated 30,000 students and 900 teachers.
The main objective is to improve the literacy of primary school children. This will be achieved by preventing hunger in the classroom, which CRS believes will build up attendance.
“We believe that by providing good, free meals, student numbers and attentiveness will increase, leading to the progressive development of literacy rates in Savannakhet,” Mr Chaves said.
He noted that a key to success will be the participation and involvement of local people and families, who will be encouraging children to go to school. They will also be participating in education development planning in the areas concerned.
Other partners of the project include the University of Oregon, who will help to train teachers and develop tools for inclusive education which is in line with government policy.
Room to Read, a development NGO, will also participate in the improvement of literacy through a pilot programme for selected schools. They will be leading instruction trainings as well as establishing reading rooms for pupils.
As the project involves a wide range of government agencies and partners, it should help to facilitate an efficient and successful project, and hold sustainable and positive results for the students and their districts, Mr Chaves said.
“I would like all sectors to pay attention and consider the long term impacts of such a project. We hope CRS will be engaged in sustainable food security and nutrition programmes after 2016, by which time we believe the government and communities will be better off due to improved education,” Mr Lytou said.
