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


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

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


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


Old Man

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


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:


Who has the best?