E XPLORING IMPROVED PRIMARY EDUCATION IN L AO PDR By Dr Valerie Emblen

A L AO C LASSROOM

C URRENT SITUATION There have been many gains in education reform supported by bilateral donors: new curricula; review of teacher training in-service training in the ‘new methods’ But little changes in classrooms and pupil achievement is still low and drop out high MoES is focussing on improving ‘quality’

I MPEL _ L AOS BASELINE STUDY Teachers: main views are about lack of resources. ‘we can teach better if we have the right materials’ Parents: main focus on the cost of schooling- the incidental expenses And getting children to go to school. ‘They will go some days and not others’. Children: please read my homework. I don’t know if it’s right find more pictures can we have more art can we have more stories and songs

M AIN QUESTIONS Current in-service work on a few techniques; decorating the classroom, using pictures, sitting children in groups What could quality look like in Lao schools? What actions will help children change?

T HE IMPEL - LAOS APPROACH Respect for teachers’ existing strengths Giving the teachers responsibility for choices Avoiding ‘training’ Avoiding providing materials Using existing expertise

I S IT WORKABLE ? We’ll tell you next year. The main evaluation criteria will be: Improved reading More enthusiastic teachers More involved parents

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