Location
Hinherb, Fueang, Vangvieng, Mat districts, Vientiane Province, LAOS
Beneficiaries
2,110 children (3 to 11 years old)
school teachers, librarians & directors of 12 schools
1,200 parents
4,000 community members
6,000 app users, incl. children & preschool teachers.
Background
- Low rate of achieving Lao language needs: a 2012-early grade reading assessment conducted by the World Bank found that approximately 32% of second-grade students in Laos could not read, while 57% could not comprehend what they had read. By the 4th grade, 40% of children who did not speak Lao at home had not achieved basic reading fluency. According to the Laos Education Sector Development Plan 2016-2020, only 20% of students master lower-secondary school Lao language requirements.
- Low completion rate for primary schools: the Education For All 2015 National Review Report conducted by UNESCO found that on average, the completion rate for primary schooling was 74.97%, well below the Education for All target of 88.1%.
- Lack of resources: a shortage of schools and difficulties in accessing pre-schools, early childhood care and education centers, in particular for poor families living in remote non-Lao speaking communities.
- Socio-economic hardships: in places where the primary sources of livelihoods are agricultural and poultry farming, families prioritize children’s work on the farm over attending school.
Our Actions
In response to the issues outlined above, we are expand our Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Education pilot initiative, building on Aide et Action’s Early Childhood Care & Education (ECCE) expereience and the successes achieved in early grades in Cambodia through the Khmer LEARN model.
Our overall objective is to catalyze improved reading, learning and teaching standards in Lao PDR through the roll-out of a suite of quality e-learning applications.
More in particular, we aim:
- To improve literacy and build a reading and learning culture among 2,110 children of pre-primary and primary school age in Vientiane Province.
- To strengthen the capacity of 72 pre-school and primary school teachers and librarians to deliver quality education to students through the use of mobile technology and support.
- To build a collaborative network and online platform that enables publishers, authors, and developers to create, distribute, and sustain diverse digital educational content.
Our main activities include:
- Developing School Assessments and ensure teacher commitment to the project.
- Developing the apps and coordinating their installation.
- Training teachers in delivering core subjects, followed and supported by a tablet-enabled structured e-training course and face-to-face training.
- Mobilizing and training young writer and publishers to support the development of relevant education contents for the target children.
Expected Outcomes
- 2,110 children between 3 and 11 years old have improved their reading skills to accepted government standards as a result of regular access to Lao LEARN.
- 72 pre-school and primary school teachers and librarians become better prepared to teach core subjects after receiving a tablet-enabled structured e-training course.
- A community of new and existing writers, publishers and developers is established and creates diverse digital educational content.
Partners
- Ministry of Education and Sports (MOES)
- ICT Center