EU-UNICEF Equips Ministry of Education and Sports with ICT Tools for Improved Education in Lao PDR

Vientiane Capital, 5 July 2024 – The European Union and UNICEF Lao PDR recently handed over ICT equipment with a total value of 670,000 USD to the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) to support the ministry’s Digital Strategy for Education and advance digital transformation in the nation’s education and school system.

The equipment provided include desktop computers, laptops, scanners, conferencing systems, and tablets as well as other items which demonstrates the commitment between the MoES, the EU and UNICEF to advancing education under its Partnership to Strengthen Education System (PSES).

During the event, Assoc. Dr. Phouth Simmalavong, Minister of Education and Sports, emphasized the transformative impact of the partnership: "MoES highly values this partnership, which has proved instrumental in enhancing our education system through technological innovations and advancing our Digital Strategy for Education." The strategy, currently in its final stages, was developed with support under the MoES-EU-UNICEF partnership and provides a vision for strengthening equitable and affordable digital access in education, digital skills, and data and learning management systems in Lao PDR.

The handover ceremony also highlighted the key achievements made over the past five years under the PSES, including the establishment of an education and sports management information system to inform policymaking known as “LESMIS”, the digital teaching and learning platform, Khang Panya Lao, the My House TV series for children, as well as efforts to ensure learning continuity and safe return to schools for Lao children during the COVID-19 pandemic.

H.E. Ina Marčiulionytė, the EU Ambassador to Lao PDR, underscored the EU's commitment to advancing education through partnerships at the handover ceremony. "The European Union sees the strengthening of the education sector in Lao PDR as a priority. We are pleased to invest in, and support MoES in their efforts to advance education in Lao PDR. The ICT equipment handed over today will bolster MoES’s capacity to implement its Digital Strategy for Education, ensuring improved educational outcomes for all Lao children."

Dr. Pia Rebello Britto, UNICEF Representative to Lao PDR, further highlighted the role of technology in achieving educational equity. "The success of Khang Panya Lao clearly demonstrates the power of partnership and technology in harnessing the science of learning, from pre-primary to secondary education, to improve educational outcomes. UNICEF is proud to be a part of this educational transformation, which has the potential to ensure that every child can learn and thrive.”