Laos Grade 12 classes postponed due to lack of preparation

Some provinces have postponed classes in the newly added school grade, originally slated to commence on September 1.

Education officials have attributed the delays to poor preparation in several areas, despite other classes running since the new school year started on Wednesday.

An additional 12th grade has been added to the school curriculum this year, but some provinces are merely reviewing grade 11 lessons instead because teachers are still being trained to teach the new classes.

Laos is launching a 12-year school system, which adds an extra year to the school curriculum. This means final-year secondary students from last year have to stay at school for one more year.

Head of the Xieng Khuang provincial Education Department Mr Somchai Muavangya, told Vientiane Times yesterday that the province has postponed the operation of the extra classes until the end of this month, when the completion of workshops to train teachers to run the classes is scheduled to finish.

He said provincial education officials are currently attending the training courses in Thalad village of Keo-oudom district, Vientiane province, and will finish the course this weekend. A further training course for other provincial teachers will be run before teachers are able to begin operating the extra classes at the end of the month.

In addition, Mr Somchai said textbooks for the new grade have not yet arrived in the province.

With inadequate resources, Mr Somchai said his department plans to run half-day classes in rotation to ensure all students are studying this month.

In addition, provincial education officials plan to make use of any empty state buildings in the province to temporarily accommodate the students, while waiting for the completion of facilities, scheduled to be finished by next month.

Some 88 rooms in total need to be built to accommodate students in the extra grade in Xieng Khuang province alone and construction work is almost finished, with authorities waiting for roofing to be distributed by the ministry, according to Mr Somchai.

Although schools in Vientiane and the provinces of Xayaboury and Attapeu begun grade 12 classes on September 1, they are merely reviewing lessons from grade 11.

Officials from the three provinces said they have adequate classrooms to accommodate grade 12 students.

Head of the Xayaboury provincial Education Department, Mr Toum ua Bouatongmua said as soon as teachers have been successfully trained the extra classes will begin on a regular basis.

Head of the Secondary School Division under the Vientiane Education Department, Mr Phouthone Sengdavong said grade 12 textbooks have not yet been distributed to schools in Vientiane.

He said all grade 12 classes should be up and running on a regular basis by the beginning of October after all teachers have completed their training courses.

Training courses will be organised in northern Borkeo province and southern Champassak province shortly, according to the Education Ministry.

By Souksakhone Vaenkeo
(Latest Update September 3 , 2010)