VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN): The Laos Prime Minister has called on teachers to shoulder more responsibility and to strive for higher professional standards, during a speech to mark National Teachers’ Day.
Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone advised school administrators and teachers to improve lesson delivery, create a supportive teaching and learning environment, and also eliminate drug use in schools.
He instructed them to encourage underperforming children to retake classes, while also keeping abreast of curriculum developments and reviewing fundamental teaching concepts, to organise and attend seminars on teaching methods, and to evaluate their progress.
Teachers must also learn to use modern forms of technology and sources of information, as well as taking the initiative in broadening their knowledge and social skills, learn how to use and teach foreign languages, and engage in lifelong learning so they are better equipped to pass on knowledge to their students.
The Prime Minister urged parents of school-age children to help with their schoolwork and encourage them to attend pre-school, general education, vocational, and higher education programmes.
Children should be reminded by their parents of the value of education, he added.
Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Education and Sports, Associate Prof. Dr Phout Simmalavong, said teachers in general are proactive and committed to helping their pupils be knowledgeable and bright students, so they are motivated and well positioned to become leaders in a variety of fields.
He expressed his appreciation to all educators and school administrators who have fulfilled their responsibilities by dedicating themselves to the pursuit of education.
On the same occasion, the Ministry of Education and Sports presented outstanding development awards to former leaders and teachers in the field of education.
The ministry plans to formulate a national action plan aimed at improving teaching standards and resolving the problem of teacher shortages.
As part of this, the government will pay volunteer teachers the same salary and overtime pay as official government teachers, to inspire them to continue their work rather than leave the profession for better paying jobs.
The government will allocate civil servant positions for teachers in accordance with the numbers needed to teach specific subjects.
Education authorities are also considering delaying the retirement of teachers who are in good health, experienced, and able to continue teaching. - Vientiane Times/ANN
