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Teacher Education in Lao People’s Democratic Republic

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Handbook of Research on Teacher Education

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Abstract

This chapter covers teacher education and the characteristics and deployment of school teachers in Lao PDR. The teacher education programs covered here range from early childhood education and development through upper secondary general education. Both pre-service and in-service teacher professional development are covered. Policy and practice concerning inclusive education and other equity issues are also discussed as they relate to teacher education. The historical development of teacher education from the post-revolutionary period to the end of the twentieth century is discussed elsewhere (Amarathithada et al in Teachers and teacher education. Chapter 7 in Noonan (Ed.), pp. 163–190, 2020). The most significant policy and other developments in teacher education in the twenty-first century and current problems and policy issues in teacher education are discussed in depth here. Although the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare also provide some education and training services, this chapter is limited to the professional preparation of teachers in public and private pre-school institutions and primary and secondary schools operating under the Ministry of Education and Sports (MOES). Both public and private schools are covered.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Note that in late 2011 the Ministry of Education (MOE) was renamed Ministry of Education and Sports (MOES). In this chapter, the contemporaneous acronym is always used.

  2. 2.

    Formerly named National Research Institute for Educational Sciences (NRIES).

  3. 3.

    The LSSS was not based on a nationally representative sample.

  4. 4.

    Gender parity is indicated when GPIA = 1.0. GPIA < 1.0 shows that the indicator in question for is lower for females than for males. GPIA > 1.0 shows that the indicator for females is higher than that for males.

Abbreviations

ASLO :

Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes.

B.Ed :

Bachelor of Education.

DESO :

District Education and Sports Office.

DHE :

Department of Higher Education.

DTE :

Department of Teacher Education.

DTVE :

Department of Technical and Vocational Education.

EFA-NPA :

Education for All National Plan of Action.

EQASP :

Education Quality Assurance Strategic Plan [for 2011–2020].

ESDP :

Education Sector Development Plan [for 2011–2015].

ESQAC :

Educational Standards and Quality Assurance Center (Ministry of Education).

ESSDP :

Education and Sports Sector Development Plan [for 2016–2020].

FOE :

University Faculty of Education.

GPIA :

Gender Parity Index Adjusted.

IEAD :

Institute for Educational Administration Development.

LAOSIS :

Laos Statistical Information Service.

LS :

Lower Secondary (Grades 6–9).

LSSS :

Lower Secondary School Survey.

MDG :

Millennium Development Goal.

MOES :

Ministry of Education and Sports. (Note that the Ministry of Education was renamed Ministry of Education and Sports in September 2011).

MOPI :

Ministry of Planning and Investment.

NCTC :

National Charter of Teacher Competencies.

NESRS :

National Education System Reform Strategy.

NOUL :

National University of Laos.

NRIES :

National Research Institute for the Education Sciences.

PA :

Pedagogical Advisor.

PDN :

Professional Development Network.

PESS :

Provincial Education and Sports Services.

PMO :

Prime Minister’s Office

QA :

Quality Assurance.

RIES :

Research Institute for Education Sciences.

SITC :

Statistics and Information Technology Center (MOES).

STEP :

Secondary Teacher Education Program.

STR :

Student/Teacher Ratio.

SY :

School Year.

TDC :

Teacher Development Center.

TEI :

Teacher Education Institution.

TESAP :

Teacher Education Strategy 2006–2015 and Action Plan 2006–2010.

TTC :

Teacher Training College.

TUP :

Teacher upgrading program.

TVET :

Technical and Vocational Education and Training.

UBE :

Universal Basic Education.

US :

Upper Secondary (Grades 10–12).

VEDC :

Village Education Development Committee.

VEDI :

Vocational Education Development Institute.

WAU :

World Around Us. (Civics education at primary level).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Teacher Education, Ministry of Education and Sports, Vientiane, Lao PDR

    Varadune Amarathithada & Vong Deuan Osay

  2. Vientiane, Lao PDR

    Richard Noonan

Authors
  1. Varadune Amarathithada
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  2. Vong Deuan Osay
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  3. Richard Noonan
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia

    Myint Swe Khine

  2. Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai, China

    Yang Liu

Appendix

Appendix

Appendix: Selected Policy Aims for Teacher Education in ESSDP 2016–2020

By 2020

• 70% of all new trainees are selected by passing entrance examinations, and 30% are quota students awarded scholarships after selection by provinces

• 95% of all contracted teacher trainees are recruited as teachers

• 3 to 5 TEIs prepare teachers for pre-school teacher education

• 5 to 6 TEIs train primary teachers at Bachelor’s level

• 6 to 7 TEIs train secondary education teachers at Bachelor’s level in selected subjects based on the strength and readiness of each TEI to teach these subjects

• Each TEI has a demonstration school annex, with defined missions and duties in detail for implementation; and

• Each TEI has the capacity to support continuing professional development for general education teachers through in-service training programs

  1. Source MOES (2015, pp. 56–57)

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Amarathithada, V., Osay, V.D., Noonan, R. (2022). Teacher Education in Lao People’s Democratic Republic. In: Khine, M.S., Liu, Y. (eds) Handbook of Research on Teacher Education. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-9785-2_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-9785-2_11

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