DVV International gives further boost to adult education

DVV International and the Department of Non-Formal Education (DNFE), Ministry of Education and Sports, have reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening adult education and non-formal education in Laos.
This year, DVV International will continue to support the department in getting final approval for the Decree for Lifelong Learning and in the following implementation of the decree.
The decree is meant to establish the concept of Lifelong Learning as a foundation for the entire education system. It will ensure the permeability between formal and non-formal education and informal learning and will help to meet the demand and obligation to learn throughout life in order to meet the needs of an ever faster changing world.
DVV International will further help in strengthening the non-formal education system as a whole, particularly by building capacities at the district level, to be demonstrated in the pilot districts of Nong and Xepon in Savannakhet province where it is supporting Community Learning Centres in remote villages with ethnic groups.
DVV International and the Department of Non-Formal Education on Thursday celebrated their long-standing cooperation in a handover and signing ceremony at the DVV International Regional Office in Vientiane.
DVV International is the German Adult Education Association. It has been strengthening adult education and non-formal education in Laos since 2009.
Its objective is to reach the most vulnerable and marginalised groups of society by supporting the establishment of sustainable adult education structures.
In the ceremony, Deputy Director of DNFE Mrs Philany Phissamay and Regional Director for Southeast Asia of DVV International, Dr Johann Heilmann, signed an agreement of cooperation for 2020. DVV International also handed over 4,000 of calendars, diaries and newsletters to the department.
Both Mrs Philany and Dr Heilmann expressed their appreciation for a partnership based on trust and confidence.
The ceremony was attended by the Deputy Minister of Education and Sports, Dr Phout Simmalavong, and the German Ambassador to Laos, Jens Lütkenherm.
Mrs Philany said the department and DVV International have been cooperating for several areas on adult education and lifelong learning and promoting literacy and basic education in rural areas.
DVV International has been providing support at the national, provincial and district level to strengthen the non-formal education system, and promoting the development of non-formal education vocational training for adults.
In addition, DVV International has been providing in-service staff training and further training for students at the National University of Laos, and providing the networking of Lao education experts with regional and international adult education networks.
During the ceremony, Dr Phout thanked DVV International for its continuing support in this important field of education.
Mr Lütkenherm assured the preparedness of the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development to fund DVV International’s operations in Laos in the future.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update February 3, 2020)