(KPL) The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Government of France and the World Food Programme (WFP) agreed on Apr 1 to jointly support communities in the northern province of the Lao PDR to improve food and nutrition security. At the ceremony in Boun Neua, in the presence of the Province Governor, French Ambassador to the Lao PDR Florence Jeanblanc-Risler, and WFP Representative and Country Director Jan Delbaere signed a memorandum of understanding worth 500,000 Euros (approximately US$ 590,000) spanning 20 months, to address the immediate food and nutrition needs, as well as support the resilience of communities in Phongsaly Province.

(KPL) Besides to speeding up mitigating the Covid-19 impacts on businesses by focusing on recovery efforts, addressing unemployment, and labour skills development, the government’s focus will be also placed on human resource development making sure it is of quality and specific. Vocational training, specialization, and Industry 4.0 modernisation will be also attached with attention to ensure the achievement of the goals of the 9th five-year socio-economic development plan, according to newly elected Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh.

(KPL) A report meeting was held in Vientiane on Mar 24 for 39 JDS master’s degree holders and two PhD scholars who have returned to Laos from Japan to share their experiences when studying in Japan and present their research highlights. The returned scholars of Japan’s Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship – JDS - from 18th and 19 batch of Master’s programme and 1st batch of Doctoral programme have completed their two years for Master’s and three years for Doctoral courses. As part of their post graduate programmes, they studied subjects related to social and economic development of Laos.

(KPL) The Department of French, Faculty of Letters, National University of Laos officially launched a Bachelor of Arts in tourism in French programme on Jan 15 in Vientiane.

(KPL) The book on Le Van Hien, the first Vietnamese Ambassador to the Lao PDR was introduced to the public in Vientiane on Dec 31.

(KPL) U.S. Ambassador to Laos Peter M. Haymond presented scholarships to 18 female law graduates at a ceremony in Vientiane on Dec 15 to attend a year-long professional legal training course at the National Institute of Justice (NIJ). The event, held at the NIJ and attended by Vice Minister of Justice Bounsavath Boupha, Director General of the National Institute of Justice Bounta S. Phabmixay and more than 50 other representatives from the NIJ, Ministry of Justice, U.S. Embassy, private law firms, and development partners, demonstrates the United States’ continued support to the Lao PDR’s justice sector and the Lao government’s work to build a rule of law state.

(KPL) UNFPA and the Ministry of Education and Sports organized a workshop for the presentation of rapid assessment on Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) for secondary education and technical and vocational education training (TVET) centres in Bokeo Province. The aim of the meeting was to share the key findings of the assessment as well as update the materials used by teachers to deliver the lessons.

(KPL) UNFPA and the Ministry of Education and Sports organized a workshop for the presentation of rapid assessment on Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) for secondary education and technical and vocational education training (TVET) centres in Bokeo Province yesterday. The aim of the meeting was to share the key findings of the assessment as well as update the materials used by teachers to deliver the lessons.

(KPL) The government will continue to increase the quality of teaching and learning and develop basic infrastructure in education and health sectors, a vice premier told the National Assembly’s ordinary session this week. “Over recent years, the government has provided more funding to human resource development in education and health sectors than other sectors,” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Planning and Investment Sonexay Siphandone told the 10th Ordinary Session of the National Assembly’s 8th legislature.

(KPL) Lignite-fired power generator Hongsa Power Company has granted scholarships totally worth 280 million kip to five students to help them pursue undergraduate education at the National University of Laos and the Souphanouvong University.