ພາສາລາວ
For his very first visit outside Vientiane, the new Australian Ambassador, Jean-Bernard Carrasco, chose Savannakhet Province and was delighted to see first hand how the BEQUAL program was helping disadvantaged children access education.
After a call on Savannakhet Governor, HE Mr Santiphab Phomvihane, to discuss the province’s economic, social and education development progress, and a meeting with Director General of Savannakhet Provincial Education and Sports Services, Mrs Lingthong Sengtavanh, to learn how to better support the education priorities of provincial and district governments, the Ambassador started his field trip with the Savannakhet Teacher Training College (TTC).
The Ambassador met with the enthusiastic students and inaugurated their recently renovated dormitories and new latrines and bathing facilities.
Then, alongside Savannakhet Vice Governor, HE Mr Khamphoune Touphaythoune and Acting Director General of Teacher Education, Ministry of Education and Sports, Mr Keth Phanhlack, the Ambassador officially launched the school infrastructure work for the whole region at Ban Theum Noy School, Phalanxai District. The delegation broke ground and poured the first concrete ground beam for the construction of new classrooms. The 11 ethnic student teachers who will be relocated to their home villages in the district in September 2018 proudly participated in the ceremony.
Ambassador Carrasco remarked, “Australia has been a long-term supporter of education in Lao PDR. We have a shared interest in giving children the chance of a good education—there is no issue more important for Lao PDR’s socio-economic development”.
Better school resourcing is one of the three BEQUAL’s expected outcomes. Schools where an ethnic graduate will be deployed will receive upgraded infrastructure.
In Savannakhet, BEQUAL is also working closely with sub-national governments to improve financial management and increase support for teachers. Phalanxai and Nong District Education and Sports Bureaus received supplementary funds to increase the number of visits to schools and villages, providing support and on-the-job guidance to teachers, head teachers and Village Education Development Committees. Finance staff at provincial and district levels have been trained in basic Excel functions to improve procedures and increase efficiency.