FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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Japanese foundation boosts education for poor in Laos

Japanese foundation boosts education for poor in Laos

An estimated 1,300 schoolchildren in four rural districts of Savannakhet province in Laos will have a bountiful supply of school material this academic year to make learning easier as they use the texts to develop and improve their basic skills and knowle

The Japanese Marubeni Education Foundation in Laos has provided school supplies worth over 220 million kip (US$27,500) through the Ministry of Education and Sports.
The handover ceremony was attended by Deputy Minister of Education and Sports Mr Lytou Bouapao, the general manager of Marubeni Vientiane Liaison Office Mr Katsunori Kobayashi and other invited guests.
The supplies included textbooks, rulers, pens, pencils, uniforms, sports equipment and bed accessories for students living in boarding schools in Kaysone Phomvihane, Xepon, Phin and Nong districts.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Kobayashi, said the group was very proud to be part of helping Lao students, especially poor schoolchildren in Savannakhet province. “Children grow up and become a resource to drive the socio-economic development of the country.”
Mr Kobayashi said he hoped the children who receive the textbooks would pay close attention to their studies. “Our company regards education as an important part of its assistance to Laos,” he added.
The company reaffirmed its commitment to further support education-related activities in Laos.
Mr Lytou said the company’s support would contribute directly to human resource development in Laos, a key focus of the government’s socio-economic development plan.
The government is working to improve basic education in rural mountainous areas, with the aim of achieving the targets outlined in the Education for All plan and the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.
“Although the ministry has received support from donors, various organisations and other development partners, there are still challenges to develop the quality of basic education in Laos, especially in areas that lack adequate supplies, teachers, school buildings and other facilities.”
Through the seven years of the project, the foundation has contributed over US$190,000 to improving education in Laos, especially among rural ethnic children in Savannakhet. Over 7,400 poor children in the target communities have benefited. 
 
 
 
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