llX wrote on 20^th Apr, 2011 at 5:58pm:

Education, heath care should be the top priority. Laos can learn from Cuba. Cuba has a 99.8% literacy rate, an average life expectancy of 78 same as the U.S. Their healthcare is as good as developed nation. Laos Literacy Rate Is 69%, and life expectancy is 64. :)

The village school in that video is in the same district and just along the river from a similar village school where we delivered your donation of school materials yesterday.

While many criticize Lao teachers for relying on traditional teaching methods, the fact is that the children who are able to go to school DO learn to read and write correctly.  Something that cannot be claimed by many schools in the U.S.  Many teachers in Lao schools are unqualified and untrained in new teaching methodologies, yet the children in their care DO succeed in mastering the basic skills such as literacy and numeracy.

Just as long as there is a school for the children to go to, and access the basic educational materials they need.

Enrollment in primary schools in Laos is now 83%, up from only 58% in 1991 (when I got here). The goal of the Lao government is to achieve 98% enrollment by 2015.  This is one of the key Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that the government has committed itself to achieving by 2015.

You can see all of the MDGs for Laos and progress made so far at:

http://www.un.int/lao/mdglaosprogressreport.htm

Old Man

A little criticism can be helpful. Sometime you don't see what you did wrong, but other might see it. I think Laos education system should has been one of the best in Asia 10 year ago. I don't understand why we so behind in everything. Comparing to the neighboring country.
;)

llX wrote on 20^th Apr, 2011 at 9:00pm:

A little can be helpful. Sometime you don't see what did wrong, but other might see it. I think Laos education system should has been one of the best in Asia 10 year ago. I don't understand why we so behind in everything. Comparing to the neighboring country. ;)

It's not so bad compared to neighbouring countries when you consider that two of Laos' neighbours are Myanmar and Cambodia.


Old Man

I think Laos is behind Cambodia and Myamar too. Laos with small population, and lack of skilled labors doesn't help either. There's good and bad everywhere you live. Even in the U.S there's pro and con. You just had to know how the system work.
:) 8-)

llX wrote on 20^th Apr, 2011 at 5:58pm:

Education, heath care should be top priority. Laos can learn from Cuba. Cuba has a 99.8% literacy rate, an average life expectancy of 78 year, same as the U.S. Their healthcare is as good as developed nation. Laos Literacy Rate Is 69%, and life expectancy is 64. :)

Are you certain about these stastistics? 99.8% is an overwhelming figure! Better than most devoloped (western) countries. Aren't they under a dictataor? Cuba hasn't made it into the news in awhile. Last I heard, Castro (Fidel) handed power down to his brother.

Cuba get free health care and education. Literacy rate of 99.8 is the second best in the world.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_literacy_rate
;) 8-)




Larb Dip wrote on 21^st Apr, 2011 at 8:58am:

llX wrote on 20th Apr, 2011 at 5:58pm: Education, heath care should be top priority. Laos can learn from Cuba. Cuba has a 99.8% literacy rate, an average life expectancy of 78 year, same as the U.S. Their healthcare is as good as developed nation. Laos Literacy Rate Is 69%, and life expectancy is 64. :) Are you certain about these stastistics? 99.8% is an overwhelming figure! Better than most devoloped (western) countries. Aren't they under a dictataor? Cuba hasn't made it into the news in awhile. Last I heard, Castro (Fidel) handed power down to his brother.

llX wrote on 22^nd Apr, 2011 at 7:48am:

Cuba get free health care and education. Literacy rate of 99.8 is the second best in the world. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_literacy_rate ;) 8-) Larb Dip wrote on 21st Apr, 2011 at 8:58am: llX wrote on 20th Apr, 2011 at 5:58pm: Education, heath care should be top priority. Laos can learn from Cuba. Cuba has a 99.8% literacy rate, an average life expectancy of 78 year, same as the U.S. Their healthcare is as good as developed nation. Laos Literacy Rate Is 69%, and life expectancy is 64. :) Are you certain about these stastistics? 99.8% is an overwhelming figure! Better than most devoloped (western) countries. Aren't they under a dictataor? Cuba hasn't made it into the news in awhile. Last I heard, Castro (Fidel) handed power down to his brother.

Who has the best?