The European Union and UNICEF provided ICT equipment to the Ministry of Education and Sports as part of its Partnership to Strengthen Education System in the Lao PDR.

(KPL) The European Union and UNICEF Lao PDR recently handed over ICT equipment with a total value of 670,000 USD to the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) to support the ministry’sDigital Strategy for Education and advance digital transformation in the nation’s education and school system.

The equipment provided include desktop computers, laptops, scanners, conferencing systems, and tablets as well as other items which demonstrates the commitment between the MoES, the EU and UNICEF to advancing education under its Partnership to Strengthen Education System (PSES).

During the event, Minister of Education and Sports Phouth Simmalavong emphasized the transformative impact of the partnership: "MoES highly values this partnership, which has proved instrumental in enhancing our education system through technological innovations and advancing our Digital Strategy for Education." The strategy, currently in its final stages, was developed with support under the MoES-EU-UNICEF partnership and provides a vision for strengthening equitable and affordable digital access in education, digital skills, and data and learning management systems in the Lao PDR.

The handover ceremony also highlighted the key achievements made over the past five years under the PSES, including the establishment of an education and sports management information system to inform policymaking known as “LESMIS”, the digital teaching and learning platform, Khang Panya Lao, the My House TV series for children, as well as efforts to ensure learning continuity and safe return to schools for Lao children during the COVID-19 pandemic.

EU Ambassador to the Lao PDR Ina Marčiulionytė underscored the EU's commitment to advancing education through partnerships at the handover ceremony.

"The European Union sees the strengthening of the education sector in the Lao PDR as a priority. We are pleased to invest in, and support MoES in their efforts to advance education in the Lao PDR. The ICT equipment handed over today will bolster MoES’s capacity to implement its Digital Strategy for Education, ensuring improved educational outcomes for all Lao children."

UNICEF Representative to the Lao PDR Pia Rebello Britto further highlighted the role of technology in achieving educational equity. "The success of Khang Panya Lao clearly demonstrates the power of partnership and technology in harnessing the science of learning, from pre-primary to secondary education, to improve educational outcomes. UNICEF is proud to be a part of this educational transformation, which has the potential to ensure that every child can learn and thrive.”

KPL