VIENTIANE: The government has prioritised adequate budgeting for education and public health in 2025, with the National Assembly recently approving a budget of 133 billion kip for the education and sports sector.
Speaking at the last sitting of the National Assembly in December, Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone said the figure of 133 billion kip amounted to 8 per cent of the government’s budget.
However, this amount is less than in previous years because the government must also prioritise goods production, restoration of infrastructure damaged by weather extremes, border demarcation, and other projects.
Prime Minister Sonexay said the government must also service its debts and finance various ongoing projects during 2025, with funds allocated to sectors and localities based on their particular circumstances and needs.
In past years, the education and sports sector has been allocated 13 per cent of the government’s budget and last year benefitted from an allocation of 14 per cent.
About 90 billion kip of the money allocated was used to pay voulunteer teachers.
The budget awarded to the public health sector has increased every year, with 75.67 billion kip being allocated for this year, accounting for 2.4 per cent of total government investment.
The public health and education and sports sectors have also received substantial Official Development Assistance (ODA) from foreign countries, development partners, and various Lao and foreign organisations.
During the last meeting of the National Assembly, the Ministry of Education and Sports outlined strategies to improve the education system to ensure comprehensive growth, improved standards, and internationalisation.
These included making changes to the objectives and content of school curriculums, teacher development and teaching reform, and the reform of education management.
The ministry has improved the national education structure, the school and classroom system, and overall educational conditions.
More money has been poured into education and the ministry has made clear its desire to ensure that all citizens have access to education, and stepped up cooperation with the international community to drive development in this sector.
This academic year, the government is again working to improve the quality of education and raise the standards of personnel employed in this field.
The Ministry of Education and Sports is also working to resolve the problem of student dropouts as well as improving the quality of teaching and learning in schools nationwide. - Vientiane Times/ANN
