Building a stronger local management team!
Last week, BEQUAL program organised a 1.5 days’ workshop on the basics of management theory for local BEQUAL and LAI managers in Laos
Ministry of Education, with support from Australia, organising a 2-day virtual online workshop connecting more than 60 Ministry, PESS and TTC staff from 8 locations across Lao via videoconference
The purpose of the workshop is to revise the 18 Provincial Trainer teams responsible for the in-service training on the new improved primary curriculum and continuing professional development support for primary teachers.
Ministry of Education and Sports, with support from Australia, holding a Primary Curriculum Stakeholders Forum with representatives from all provinceso Draft
More than 100 participants gather to share information and lessons learned on the development and implementation of the new improved primary curriculum
Ministry of Education and Sports national and provincial stakeholders and Australia discuss the recent progress and next semester plan for the development and implementation of the new improved primary curriculum
During the meeting, Australia hands over equipment to the Research Institute for Educational Sciences for the layout of curriculum materials and the production of teacher development videos
Australia harnesses international students to record lively English audio files for the new Ministry of Education and Sports Grade 3 English language curriculum materials
The audio material will enable Lao students to learn English in an entertaining way and expose them to the diversity of native accents in English spoken language
Australia training Research Institute for Educational Sciences teams on how to include Sign Language in their video materials
Future teacher development videos to train teachers on the new improved primary curriculum and the new pedagogical approach will be dubbed in Sign Language.
Ministry of Education and Sports and Australia piloting a new Spoken Lao curriculum for non-Lao speaking grade 1 students in 80 remote primary schools
Grade 1 students from non-Lao speaking backgrounds will receive up to an additional hour of instructions a day to improve their ability to read and write Lao language
Ministry of Education and Sports and Australian Government launching the writing of the revised Grade 4 and 5 curriculum
Curriculum writers received guidance on how to promote active learning and integrate the multigrade strategy in the development of the new teaching and learning materials
Ministry of Education and Sports and Australia launching an innovative blended learning pilot to provide ongoing support to primary teachers
Last week, Department of Teacher Education monitored remotely primary classroom observations by provincial trainers and provided live guidance via Zoom conference
Ministry of Education and Sports and Australian Government commit to continue to improve inclusion for children with disabilities in all aspects of education
In a joint event, MoES and Australia reflect on Inclusive Education with a series of testimonies and panel discussions from people living with disabilities and inclusive education experts.
Ministry of Education and Sports and Australia released three new training videos on the “ວິດີໂອສໍາລັບການພັດທະນາຄູ Teacher Development Videos” YouTube Channel
The videos explore different techniques to assess and support students’ learning
Progress in the development of the new Grade 3 textbooks and teacher guides
All curriculum subject teams including writers and layout staff from the Research Institute of Educational Sciences (RIES) attended a weeklong workshop to finalise the editing of the teaching and learning materials.
Australia continues its support to the Ministry of Education and Sports of Lao PDR to improve Lao primary education with a focus on integration of gender and inclusive education approaches
Acknowledging the challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic, Australia also handed over videoconferencing equipment to the Ministry to facilitate online workshops, meetings and trainings
Printing of Grade 3 Textbooks
Tender Briefing Date: Friday 20 November 2020 at 1.30pm Lao time
Closing Date: Monday 7 December at 4.
Printing of Grade 3 Teacher Guides
Tender Briefing Date: Friday 20 November 2020 at 10.00am Lao time
Australia will support two more districts from the 40 disadvantaged districts identified as a priority by the Ministry of Education and Sports to receive extra support
18 of the Ministry’s priority districts will receive extra support from Australia to strengthen the implementation of the revised primary curriculum, out of a total of 34 districts supported by Australia
Districts organizing extra activities to support G1 curriculum
7 districts took the initiative to use savings made through efficient management of Education Support Grants, to reinforce Grade 1 teachers’ professional development
Ministry of Education and Sports filming new training videos for the primary teachers
While teachers are being trained nationwide on the new Grade 2 curriculum, the Research Institute of Educational Sciences is producing new videos to train teachers on how to assess and support students’ learning
National training of all Grade 2 teachers on the new curriculum
10,304 Grade 2 teachers and pedagogical advisors are being trained across the country. Delivery of the workshops has been modified to ensure COVID-19 prevention
Champasak excels in demonstrating COVID-19 Prevention best practice during the teacher training workshops
Champasak Provincial Education and Sports Services (PESS) and its 10 District Education and Sports Bureaux have organised the training of 833 participants including all Grade 2 teachers and Pedagogical Advisors in the province implementing strict COVID-19 prevention measures.
Progress in the development of the new Year 2 Primary Teacher Education curriculum
With support from Australia and European Union, the Ministry of Education and Sports is developing a new approach to teaching and learning
Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) monitoring the new Primary Teacher Education Curriculum implementation in two focus Teacher Training Colleges (TTC)
The monitoring visits were put on hold during the COVID pandemic when TTCs were temporarily closed but have now resumed
Teachers consultations on the new Grade 3 materials
Their feedback will inform the development of the final versions of the new Grade 3 textbooks and teacher guides to be implemented in September 2021.
Ministry of Education and Sports, Australia and the European Union discuss the impact of COVID-19 for the Grade 2 and Grade primary curriculum development and implementation
The BEQUAL Technical Meeting was organized as a hybrid online and in-person event in four different locations simultaneously to ensure social distancing, reduce travelling and other COVID-19 prevention measures.
Ministry of Education and Sports and Australia launch the training of trainers for the new Grade 2 curriculum
The delivery of the training was designed to ensure COVID-19 prevention measures
Deliveries of new Grade 2 school materials completed for all 148 districts!
Districts will now liaise with the primary schools to distribute the new textbooks and teacher resource boxes to all Grade 2 schools before the start of the new school year
Ministry of Education and Sports, Australia and European Union gearing up for start of next school year
Australia and European Union continues to support the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) with grade by grade curriculum development and delivery during COVID crisis
First positive results of the new Grade 1 curriculum implementation reported by districts from six provinces
98% of the Grade 1 students observed in over 1,900 primary schools were learning with the new set of textbooks.
Special Day for Grade 1
Today is the last day of school – Time to remember the best moments and imagine activities for the break
New TV teaching-learning program to support primary students during the COVID-19 crisis
The Ministry of Education and Sports immediately launched a new TV/radio teaching program covering the key primary subjects in response to the schools’ closure
For the BEQUAL team, Earth Day is every day!
Last year, Coffey’s BEQUAL team in Laos decided to minimize its negative impact on the environment and to take action against single plastic use in the workplace.
New teaching and learning resources for Grade 2 classes
The packing of 9365 Grade 2 teacher resource boxes was finished right in time before the Prime Minister’s order 06 came into effect. The trucks are scheduled to depart after the PiMai holidays to deliver to 148 DESBs for every school in the country.
Look what we have learnt!
A special day for Learn Together – Parents come to visit the classroom…
New training videos released on the “ວິດີໂອສໍາລັບການພັດທະນາຄູ Teacher Development Videos” YouTube Channel
The new videos on the core Lao Language techniques of the new Grade 1 curriculum and on professional development activities
Sports Day
Come join Nok Noy, Nok Young, the storytelling team and your favourite little clay heroes for Sports Day!
New Physical Education curriculum – Grade 3 students will practice yoga at school
Teaching yoga have many benefits; it will help improves students’ behaviour, physical health and academic performance.
Learning to count
3 pigs + 2 cows + 3 ducks =?
Have fun learning to count with this new episode of Learn Together
Enjoying Reading
Do you remember your first poem? The first books you were able to read by yourself?
Follow the adventures of your favorite heroes and discover a beautiful poem on a special garden in this new episode of Learn Together.
Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) and Australia celebrating International Women’s Day with three primary teachers from Luang Namtha remote highlands.
What better way to celebrate International Women’s Day and promote the importance of education than meeting 3 inspirational women teachers and providing them with the opportunity to learn about the supply chain of the new Grade 2 learning materials in a refurbished Ministry’s Km3 warehouse.
Preparing engaging and active lessons for primary students – A new approach to teaching and learning
Primary Curriculum Writers attended a three-day professional development workshop to strengthen their active teaching and learning curriculum writing skills
Play Time
Have you ever had an argument with your best friend? How did you resolve it? And what about recess? Are you playing with you friends or do you wander alone not knowing what to do? Follow the adventures of your favorite heroes and learn about being a good friend!
“Pre-service Curriculum Revision Workshop 2” from 10th to 14th February
Curriculum writers revise Semester 1 Year 1 materials based on feedback from teacher-trainers at the trial TTCs
Learning Sciences Together
Will the leaf float or sink? And the little stone? Have you ever tried to drop objects in the water to see what will happen?
First national “Symposium on Multi-Grade Teaching and Learning” hosted by the Research Institute for Educational Sciences on January 23, 2020
In preparation for the implementation of the new Grade 2 curriculum and commencement of Grade 3 writing, education stakeholders convene to discuss how to address multigrade teaching in primary school
First impressions from teachers and trainers who piloted the new Grade 2 curriculum orientation training
Last month, a group of 3 Master Trainers and 25 Grade 2 teachers participated in the trial of the Grade 2 curriculum orientation training to learn about and test the new Grade 2 teaching and learning resources that will be used nationwide starting next school year
New training videos released on the ວິດີໂອສໍາລັບການພັດທະນາຄູ Teacher Development Videos YouTube Channel
The new videos focus on the core Lao Language techniques of the new Grade 1 curriculum
BEQUAL Education Innovation Fund (BEIF) Learning Workshop
Actors from the education sector are convening today to discuss results, learnings and next steps from fifteen innovative pilot projects
“Pre-service Curriculum Development workshop – Assessment” from 9 to 13 December 2019
In September 2019, the training of all Year 1 teacher trainees in the 8 Teacher Training Colleges started with the new pre-service curriculum. As the end of the first semester approaches, the pre-service curriculum development teams are preparing for the new end of Semester 1 assessment to evaluate teacher-trainees’ understanding, knowledge and skills after this first period of teacher training.
Missing school
Watch the latest episode of Learn Together and learn why going to school every day is important!
A new Spoken Lao Program for non-Lao speaking Grade 1 students being piloted in 4 provinces
During the last 2 weeks, a selection of Grade 1 students underwent an “Early Grade Lao Language Assessment” (EGLA) test that will serve as a baseline reference for the pilot.
Pre-service Curriculum Revision and Development Workshop, Diploma degree from 11th to 15th November 2019 at ICT Building, MOES
An iterative process of curriculum development to allow on-going learning and continuous improvement
World Toilet Day 2019 – Leave no one Behind!
How can a student stay healthy when their school lacks a toilet? Inadequate sanitation is estimated to cause 432,000 diarrhoeal deaths in the world every year and is a major factor for diseases such as intestinal worms.
School cleaning day
Follow the adventures of Kham and his friends in the latest Learn Together episode
New Grade 2 textbooks and teacher guides to be approved for school year 2020-21
As Grade 1 students have just started the school-year with the new curriculum, the Committee for Approval of Curriculum and Instructional Materials (CACIM) is meeting this week to approve the Grade 2 materials.
Preparing the training teams for the new Grade 2 curriculum
In July and August, a team of nearly 700 Master and Provincial Trainers trained every Grade 1 teacher, primary principal and pedagogical advisor in the country. The Department of Teacher Education is now organising a two-days’ workshop to share the lessons learned and to review the training teams in preparation for the training of Grade 2 curriculum training to be implemented next year.
Celebrating Teachers’ Day
Teachers play a vital role in shaping the future of the next generation and the development of Lao PDR. Let’s meet the new generation of teachers!
Australia supports more Lao children in remote areas get to better access to education
Vientiane – Australia in partnership with the European Union, through the Basic Education Quality and Access in Lao PDR (BEQUAL) Program, and the Ministry of Education and Sports have completed construction of new classrooms and provided water and sanitation facilities in 582 schools in nine provinces.
Districts getting ready to intensify through-semester support to help Grade 1 teachers applying the new curriculum.
32 target districts attending a series of 5-day Primary Curriculum Implementation Support Workshops from 16th to 27th September.
Sharing and Caring
Watch the latest episode of Learn Together and learn how to take care of your textbooks
Celebrating Literacy Day – Focus on the new Spoken Lao Pilot Program to support the development of literacy for non-Lao speaking students.
A program to help non-Lao native speakers with spoken Lao Language will be piloted in Grade 1 classes in four provinces in Lao PDR during the 2019-20 school- year
National campaign to announce the delivery of the new textbooks
Listen to the spot broadcasted on National Radio and the villages’ loudspeakers
News Scoop on the new primary curriculum and Learn Together, the new TV educational program
Watch the exclusive reportage from IMC that was broadcasted on Tuesday 27th August on Lao Channel 1
Early results from monitoring the new Grade 1 in-service teacher training
Since July, all Lao Grade 1 teachers, Primary School Principals, and pedagogical advisors nationwide are being trained on the new Grade 1 curriculum; monitoring teams have been deployed across all districts to observe and provide support and feedback.
TV spot to announce the new Grade 1 curriculum
The campaign started on 6 August on Lao National TV Channel 1
Getting Ready for School with Learn Together
Watch the first episode of Learn Together, the new and fun Lao educational TV program
This Sunday 11th August don’t miss the first episode of Learn Together, the new exciting edutainment series 100% made in Laos!
Learn Together is a fun and innovative educational TV program specially designed to support the learning of Grade 1 Lao children.
Coffey’s BEQUAL team says NO to plastic
Can we work without plastic? Coffey’s BEQUAL organized a plastic challenge to reduce the use of plastic in their workplace.
All new Grade 1 materials delivered at the districts!
Districts will now liaise with the primary schools to distribute the new materials to all Grade 1 classes before the start of the new school year.
Science and environment curriculum writers reflect on the teaching of scientific skills in primary classes.
While the delivery of the new Grade 1 textbooks is underway, the curriculum writers are continuing to develop the curriculum for the next four primary grades. The Research Institute for Educational Sciences in collaboration with the BEQUAL technical advisers has recently reviewed the contents, scientific skills, and designed textbooks and teacher guides mapping Science and Environment for continuity in the content across Grades 1-5.
Handover ceremony for 122 student teachers from remote communities
122 local student teachers just completed their studies at Teacher Training Colleges. They will join the 209 local teachers who graduated last year and are already deployed and teaching in their remote communities!
National training of teachers for the new Grade 1 curriculum training has begun
Prior to the beginning of the new school year, more than 16,700 Grade 1 teachers, primary school principals and pedagogical advisors are being trained nationwide during July and August on new teaching practices and how to use the new Grade 1 curriculum materials.
Trailer of Learn Together just released
Join Australian Ambassador Jean-Bernard Carrasco and Nok Noy the little bird to discover this new exciting educational TV program
Deliveries of new Grade 1 materials completed for seven provinces!
All the districts in Savannakhet, Luang Prabang, Phongsaly, Oudomxai, Bokeo, Xekong and Attapeu provinces have received the new Grade 1 materials to be distributed to public primary schools.
Improving the quality of Lao children’s books
Capacity Building Workshop with Lao Book Publishing Stakeholders: “Use of Book Levelling in Publishing for Children”
Teachers to receive training for new national curriculum
Teacher of Grade 1 in primary schools across Laos will be trained to teach the new national primary school curriculum, Article written by Keoviengkhone Bounviseth, Vientimes Times Home news
First deliveries of new Grade 1 materials arriving in the districts!
Nga district (Oudomxay Province), Nalae district (Luang Namtha Province) and Met district (Vientiane Province) were the first three districts to receive the new Grade 1 materials on 13th and 14th of June.
Vice-minister of Education and Sports announced the official launch of the new national primary curriculum, starting with Grade 1 in September 2019
H.E. Associate Professor Dr Kongsy Sengmany, Vice-minister of Education and Sports of Lao PDR officially announced the launch of the new National Primary Curriculum, with Grade 1 commencing in September 2019
Filming crew in the Lao primary schools to produce Teacher Development videos
The production of a series of short videos to help primary teachers use the new curriculum and active learning techniques has just started.
Launch of the in-service training for the new Grade 1 curriculum
In September 2019, all Grade 1 students will start the school-year with a new improved curriculum. The massive series of trainings needed to get all Grade 1 teachers equipped with the skills and techniques needed to implement the new curriculum in their classroom has just started.
New animation series to support learning by Grade 1 children
On May 3rd, Vientiane Times interviewed Katie Smith, The First Secretary of the Australian Embassy to Laos and Souliya Phoumivong, Director of Clay House Studio , on the Learn Together” Article written by Visith Teppalath
Last teachers’ consultation on the new Grade 2 curriculum
The Research Institute for Educational Sciences (RIES) undertook a 2-day consultation on 2nd & 3rd of April with Grade 2 teachers, Pedagogical Advisors and representatives from the provincial and district educational offices in four provinces to support the revision of the new Grade 2 textbooks and teacher guides.
Approval of the in-service training materials for new Grade 1 curriculum
In July 2019, more than 16,000 Grade 1 teachers, primary principals and pedagogical advisors will start their training on the new Grade 1 curriculum. The training and self-study materials are now being finalised and approved
New video on the Teacher Training scholarship programme
Get inspired by Boualy and Sokhong, third-year students at the Teacher Training College. Their dream is to provide a better education and a brighter future to the young children of their remote rural villages.
Provinces begin preparations to support the implementation of the new Grade 1 curriculum
During March, nearly 100 key staff from 18 PESSs and 8 TTCs are participating in a series of four-day “Primary Curriculum Implementation Planning” workshops across the country to build their skills in planning and budgeting for orienting teachers, principals and Pedagogical Advisors to the new improved Grade 1 curriculum.
How will you help make a difference? #BalanceforBetter
As part of International Women Day celebrations, Coffey’s Laos project teams hosted a lunch presentation to hear the stories of two inspiring individuals who take action for vulnerable and disadvantaged groups.
Capacity Development Training for the 611 provincial trainers who will train the Grade 1 teachers on the new curriculum
Provincial Trainers from all eighteen provinces are participating in a week of Capacity Development Training to build their skills and knowledge on facilitation and effective training.
BEQUAL participating in a friendship football match with its counterparts
Last week, the Ministry of Education and Sports (Department of Planning) and the BEQUAL program team enjoyed a friendly football match with the Ministry of Planning and Investment (Department of International Cooperation) team.
Interview – Ms Chankham Lorvanku, provincial trainer gave us her first impressions on the new teacher training and the new grade 1 curriculum
Last month, a group of nine Master and Provincial trainers trialled the curriculum and materials they will use in July to train all Grade 1 teachers on the new curriculum. Let’s hear their opinion. Today, Ms Chankham.
Interview – Mr Meungkham Keophouvong, Master Trainer shares his view on the new Grade 1 curriculum
Last month, a group of nine Master and Provincial trainers trialled the curriculum and materials they will use in July to train all Grade 1 teachers on the new curriculum. Let’s hear their opinion. Today, Mr Meungkham.
Interview of Mr Souliya Phoumivong, founder of edutainment programs in Lao PDR
Get to know Mr Souliya Phoummivong, an inspired artist and producer of educational programs for young children in Lao PDR. He will share his passion and reveal his new project, Learn Together, developed to support the new Grade 1 curriculum.
Trialling the “Grade 1 Curriculum Training for Teachers”
In July 2019, more than 16,000 Grade 1 primary teachers, principals and pedagogical advisors will be trained how to use the new Grade 1 curriculum in the classrooms. A joint Ministry of Education and Sports and BEQUAL teacher education team has just trialled the training materials.
CACIM meeting featured on Lao National TV
The Committee for Approval of Curriculum and Instructional Materials met early December 2018 to review the new Grade 1 teaching and learning materials. The journalists were there.
First week of training for Master Trainers who will support the implementation of the new primary curriculum
Master Trainers from the Ministry of Education and Sports central level and all eighteen provinces participated in the first week of Master Trainers Capacity Development Training to build their relevant skills and knowledge to enable them to be effective trainers.
Ministry of Education and Sports, Australia and the European Union set directions for the Basic Education Quality and Access in Lao PDR program for the next two years
The Basic Education Quality and Access in Lao PDR (BEQUAL) Program Steering Committee has officially endorsed the implementation plan 2018-2020 highlighting key program activities to improve primary education in Lao PDR such as the development and the implementation of the new improved primary curriculum.
New Grade 1 textbooks and teacher guides to be approved by CACIM (Committee for Approval of Curriculum and Instructional Materials)
In September 2019, all grade 1 primary students will start the school year with a new improved curriculum and new educational materials.