FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Start of new training programme at vocational schools

Launch of VELA Pilot Courses in and

Sekong, 9 February 2015 – The ‘Vocational Education in Lao PDR’ (VELA) programme has started to test its support programme for students from disadvantaged groups in two vocational schools in Sekong and Salavan province. During the testing phase, the vocational schools gain financial management and administrative experience in implementing the ‘Inclusive Access Fund’ (IAF). The IAF is an integral part of VELA and will finance scholarships for students from disadvantaged groups. At the same time, VELA supports the development of vocational training courses at Certificate 1 and Certificate 2 level according to the new law on technical and vocational education and training. The two selected schools for the pilot test are governed by the Lao Ministry of Education and Sports. VELA is implemented by German GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Internationale Zusammenarbeit) and co-financed by the Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC).

During the official launch of the pilot in Sekong, Mr Nouphanh Outsa, Director General of the Department of Technical Vocational Education explained in his opening remarks that Lao PDR strives to offer education to each citizen, regardless of her or his background and had also registered this in its national education strategy. The pilot would serve as a very good example on how to re-integrate students who did not follow the formal school career. At the same time, the support programme would support students to continue their educational path as well as to receive adequate training to pick up a solid and good professional career, he concluded. Mr Armin Hofmann, Director of the VELA programme, emphasised that education does not just end with leaving school but is rather a life-long process which could be taken up and continued at different stages in life. This did not only apply to people from urban centres but certainly also to young people from rural areas and drop-outs who did not have access to vocational education and training at the moment.

To this end, the two vocational schools in Salavan and Sekong are supported in planning and carrying out vocational training courses at Certificate 1 and Certificate 2 level during the pilot phase. Additionally, provisional teaching and learning materials from the Vocational Education Development Institute (VEDI) for Certificate level 1 in carpentry, tailoring and hospitality are tested under real circumstances with a pilot group of up to 25 students per school. Furthermore, the pilot supports the elaboration of a social support and counselling system for disadvantaged students as well as a life skills programme to facilitate the learning process and prevent drop-outs. This element is going to be carried out most likely in cooperation with NGOs, e.g. Village Focus International (VFI) in Sekong and Salavan.

The results of the pilot will be assessed after five months testing in July 2015 to make sure that lessons learnt and good practices are considered for the roll-out of the VELA project to all 12 vocational schools.

About SDC The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is Switzerland’s public agency for social and economic development in developing nations. In the Region, SDC’s focus countries are Lao PDR, , Cambodia and Myanmar. Active in Lao PDR since 2006, SDC manages and implements Swiss support in response to the needs of the marginalized rural poor and contributes to the country’s efforts to graduate from the group of Least Developed Countries by 2020.

About GIZ The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a federal enterprise with worldwide operations. We support the German Government in the fields of international cooperation for sustainable development and international education. Through our work, we assist people and societies in shaping their own futures and improving living conditions.