NURTURING THE DEVELOPMENT OF GIFTED EDUCATION IN ASEAN COUNTRIES

 Lao PDR is an ethnically diverse country of 6.5 million people.  34% of the population lives on less than $1.25 per day and  Lao PDR has a predominantly rural population, with 75 % of the population engaged in subsistence agriculture.  the country has some of the weakest education indicators in Asia.

 Education is as the core of human resource development (IXth Party Congress and the National VIIth 5 year plan )  Education Law : ◦ Article 9 : National Education System is consistent system, which consists of Formal and Non-formal Education meanwhile all grades and levels have equivalent content and status in curriculum. National Education System has various grades and levels from pre-school to high level education.

Education Law : ◦ Article 13. Recommendation and consultancy are proved from Education Sector to learners at each grade and level to promote education expansion of learners according to their preference, abilities, gifted talent, condition, opportunities and the demand of labor markets both within the country and overseas.

 Article 36: Government has a system to support learners from poor families, the disadvantages especially women, ethnic minority groups, learners with gifted talent or good performance students meanwhile encouraging individuals, organizations and society to provide support to those learners with suitable forms of assistance

Article 39 Obligation, right and commitment of learners 1) Learners have obligation, right and commitment as following: 2) Follow direction, policy of the party, law and disciplines of schools, centers or education institutes; 3) Pay attention to their learning, complete their learning, fill themselves with knowledge, morals, love the nation and be good citizens. 4) Join learning-teaching activities and also activities generating benefit for the public according to school plan; 5) Respect, follow order of leaders, teachers and guardians; 6) Protect, maintain schools, centers or education institutes; 7) Be harmony and help one and another for learning; 8) Avoid undesirable acts in schools and society. 9) Being considered to receive scholarships; II. Educational Policy (con’t)

Article 39 Obligation, right and commitment of learners Being evaluated fairly for learning performance and behaviors; 10) Being certified educational status and receiving certificates when complete their learning; 11) Use education material, equipment and resources and information of schools, centers or education institutes correctly due to regulation; 12) Join public service organizations(youth union, women union) correctly due to regulation; 13) Present their comments to teachers and concerned organizations; 14) Jump over grades, reduce learning time for those who have gifted talent or best performance; 15) Voluntary contribute in social activities; 16) Follow obligation, right and other commitment due to regulation.

Article 36 Support and assistance for learners Government has a system to support learners from poor families, the disadvantages especially women, ethnic minority groups, learners with gifted talent or good performance students meanwhile encouraging individuals, organizations and society to provide support to those learners with suitable forms of assistance.

 Establishment of school for gifted students at lower and upper Secondary level: A gifted ethnic boarding secondary school under the National University, a talented boarding school in Champasack, southern province.  Gifted Classes in Santiphap Secondary School in Louangprabang province receiving the gifted upper secondary students from Northern provinces and gifted classes in Viential Capital Secondary school receiving upper secondary students from central and southern provinces. ( Receive scholarship)

 Each province has gifted classes ( Lao language-literature, Math, Physic and chemistry)  Some schools also organize gifted class specialize in (Lao language-literature, Math, Physic and chemistry)

 National and local level Objectives: ◦ to promote the creativity and capability of students in their special talent such as Math, Literature, Physic and chemistry in order to develop their strength on the special subject and ◦ to improve the quality teaching and learning in the school ◦ To seek the young scientist for the future

 Regional and International ◦ Since , we have sent some group of students to join the competition of Olympic and forum in the region and in the international:  2010, we sent 2 teams of 4 students to join the 7 th Regional Congress search of young scientist in Malaysia, one of our 4 team won the 1 st price in Mathematics and the second team won the 3 rd price in Science

 Regional and International ◦ Since , we have sent some group of students to join the competition of Olympic and forum in the region and in the international:  2012 in April, 4 teams of students was sent to Malaysia for Young Scientist congress and competitions, one of our team got out standing price in Mathematic topic. and two team got special price in Science topic.  In 2010, 2 teams of talented students also have been sent to attend the Olympic Math and science in Huston Texas, USA. One of the 2 teams win 3 rd price

The 1 st 4 winners win each a price of 3,000,000 Kips and appreciation certificates from MOES + Scholarship from TIGO and INTEM Companies, each USD 1, and other gilfts The Minister presented reward certificate to talented students

The 4 winners 2 nd price win each 2,000,000 Kip + Appreciation certificate from MOES and get gifts and money from Unitel Company

 No special program for gifted students at the national level  Limited budget  No national curriculum and approach for the gifted  No teacher training for gifted students  Need specific policy devoted for the gifted  Facility in using the English language as a tool for further learning  Participation of society to support gifted students not yet that strong

Thanks !