Ministry of Education and Sport Lao PDR SEAMEO CELL 2nd Governing Board Meeting and expert meeting 3-5 October 2016 Ministry of Education and Sport Lao PDR

Back ground Information Year 2016 is 1st year of new global development agenda, Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs) will be main road map for shaping our future in upcoming 15 years For fist time , Idea of lifelong learning is a part of this agenda leaders accepted power of all forms of learning. In 2016 , first year of implementation Development Plan of the new Education Sector Plan for Lao PDR.

Background Information The plan remarkable attention to Non Formal Education: Strengthened Equivalency programs Improve quality of teaching and learning ,Identifying community Learning centre, NFE centre, other Education institutions as to build a life long learning. Lifelong learning for everyone is the key to ensure a peaceful and prosperous tomorrow. Base on above policy and laws education is process of learning through people’s lives from early childhood stage to elderly stage through all kinds and all from of education ( formal non formal and informal education)

Lifelong learning in Lao PDR The development of lifelong learning in Lao PDR has been existed since the old days. And the time allocated was mainly in the form of informal education. Therefore people has gained knowledge and experience from day to day in their practicing and living occupation, this traditional lifelong learning has been transmitted from generation to generation . As people learned by experience through traditional vocational skills from their parents like agriculture and livestock, following the improved way of lives respecting the tradition and culture of their families and society.

Lifelong learning programs in Lao PDR Literacy programs as Responding to the country’s poverty alleviation programs: lifelong learning programs focused mostly on livelihood training and promotion of literacy for community, skills training for out of school youth and adult; Skill training for out of school youth and adult programs as activities areas including health and nutrition, aquaculture , post-harvest technologies, bio-intensive gardening , preventive forestry protection, sustainable agriculture, gender equity, micro-credit and reproductive health programs.

Lifelong learning programs in Lao PDR Addressing the concern on literacy and the request for continuing education are the following: -EP programs has becoming an important aspect of lifelong learning, therefore, many providers focus on EP primary education, lower and upper secondary Education. Development of literacy learning materials for Remote areas Reaching the unreached: innovative strategies for provide access to Basic Education to Out of school Children.

Challenges Lifelong learning concept and understanding among high level staffs senior Ministry of education and Sport, line of ministry concerned and province level brief of the government could not take into the prioritize in last five year development plans as well as Education sectors. This weakness point has not raised supported by development Partners and INGs of role and function of life long learning of in Lao PDR

Challenging The other line Ministries concerned as well as private sector society have been not well cooperation, The misunderstanding of LLL lead to different policy related to each line Ministry and private sectors as well as the isolated plan of action related. Lack of budget support in LLL .

Establishing lifelong learning policy Ministry of Education and Sport with cooperation with other stakeholders concerned have been Developed Policy on Lifelong learning since 2015. Lifelong learning policy incorporate the overlying principles, guideline organizational mechanisms and blueprint for action of lifelong learning of the country, including program development capacity building, quality assurance, monitoring and evaluation pursuant to the over-all vision of the Education law of Lao PDR

Establishing lifelong learning policy To achieve high standards, world-class quality, sustainable education, with a focus on human resource development for its population to become good citizen and be able to regionally and internally integrated and contribute to the protection and the construction of the nation. The policy and Decree on lifelong learning shall be applied and implemented by individuals, companies, and organizations, private and public, local and international that conduct lifelong learning activities in Lao PDR

Methods of Develop LLL policy Data collection from National and sub national levels related to existing data and information on NFE / Formal Education/informal education activities as well as regulations, policy concerned. Consultation workshop for brainstorming the ideas of how to develop the LLL policy from all stakeholder concerned. Development of LLL policy by DVV consultant long with MOES teams Series workshops to gain information and recommendation from national and sub national level as well as grass root level.

The content of Lifelong learning Vision: lifelong learning in the context of Lao PDR is to provide a favorable condition to Lao PDR accessing a quality education through various learning sources covering all areas. Mission: to provide and promote opportunities for lifelong learning to children youth and adults of country. Goals: to have a coherent education system from pre-school to higher education where there are equal opportunities for all and possibility to acquire basic skills, a qualifying education and solid foundation for lifelong learning is provided. Target: all target groups.

The content of Lifelong learning Policy Set up Mechanisms to improve the reach to all target beneficiaries Provide lifelong learning opportunity to all target group through various of channel. Strengthen and enrich the capacity of all Education Institutions and networks for Lifelong learning. Focus on Equivalency, recognition and accreditation

The content of Lifelong learning Policy Utilize of flexible learning strategies, mass media, newer technologies and ICT Teacher and staff Development on Lifelong learning Curriculum Reform and all form of learning be relevance to the needs and National Social economic development and leading eventually to regional and international level.

The content of Lifelong learning Development measurement and evaluation system in the line with various learning methods and Development quality and Standard system for knowledge and experience transfer to accreditation system Promote the participation and involve of local stakeholder and development partners in Lifelong learning .

The content of Lifelong learning Strengthening management of lifelong learning system ( by setting up a lifelong learning promotion National, province, and District steering committee ) : the National committee consist of members from Ministry of Education and sports and line ministries concerned and public and private sectors form central and local levels.

Steps Of Actions Dissemination of the Draft Life Long Learning Policy for Acknowledgement and Consensus at the Provincial Level and Central level: Final Draft on Policy Life Long Learning consensus with Central and provincial authority. Submission and endorsement of the final draft on policy Life Long Learning by the Government. Dissemination and understanding of the Policy Lifelong Learning at all levels. Seminar on plan of Actions and implementation of the Policy Life Long Learning. Monitoring and evaluation of the organized seminar workshops related of to each action.

Thank you for your attention