A teacher gives a lesson at a state primary school in Vientiane. - Photo: Vientiane Times/ANN
VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN): The Vientiane Education and Sports Department has explained the main reasons for the spiralling school dropout rate in Vientiane schools, while also suggesting solutions to the problem and stressing the need for improved teaching quality and learning outcomes.
The department gave its take on the alarming situation during a meeting of the Vientiane People’s Council last week, saying there are five main reasons for the slump in the number of children attending primary school.
Firstly, the number of children leaving school before completing either primary or secondary education is due to the country’s ongoing economic problems, officials said, meaning that many parents are suffering severe budget constraints and are no longer able to afford tuition fees.
Secondly, some schools have transferred and accepted students without recording the fact, so dropout numbers may not be accurate.
Thirdly, some children have transferred to schools outside of Vientiane when their parents took up jobs in other areas.
The fourth reason given by the department was that some parents take their children with them when they go to work in other countries, so they are longer attending schools in Vientiane.
However, the Vientiane Education and Sports Department is taking steps to resolve the problem of student dropouts as well as improving the quality of teaching and learning in schools.
The department plans to provide special classes for children who are not proficient at studying and have poor learning outcomes, and also monitor children who are likely to drop out of school.
Vientiane education authorities will also support teachers’ development by encouraging them to participate in training on the new primary school curriculum.
Teachers will be assisted to use a variety of teaching and learning materials to enable students to better express themselves and be more creative.
Schools must teach students about the best learning methods and encourage them to take more responsibility for their learning, department officials said.
Meanwhile, the Vientiane Education and Sports Department will identify more top students at the district and city levels as well as hold tests to determine the best students at the national level in all subjects taught in Grades 4 and 7 of secondary school.
The department also said that in order to improve the overall standard of education, authorities must provide adequate teaching and learning materials and facilities for all levels of education, as well as ensuring a sufficient supply of teachers.
Teachers must be assigned to a class based on the subject in which they graduated and should teach appropriate age groups.
School environments and facilities should be improved to make schools a more welcoming place for children, and place a greater focus on practical activities, the department advised.
The department will appoint a committee to monitor students who drop out of school and encourage them to return, and prevent future dropouts.
Finally, the department will work with education officials at the village level, advising them to persuade parents of the importance of education and to make sure their children attend school. - Vientiane Times/ANN
