Schools, centres of higher education to remain closed

The Ministry of Education and Sports announced on Friday that all schools and tertiary centres of education will remain closed from April 22 to May 3 as part of government efforts to curb the Covid-19 outbreak.
Prime Minister’s Order No. 06, issued on March 29, instructed everyone to remain at home from April 1-19 to contain the spread of the virus, followed by a further announcement from the Prime Minister’s Office on April 15 that there would be a 14-day extension of the lockdown.
While all places of education are temporarily closed, the Ministry of Education and Sports will continue to organise online teaching and learning.
The ministry has produced online study materials for key subjects during the closure.
The online learning content aims to keep students up to date with the syllabus and ease the impact of suspended classes while also lessening the risk of spreading the virus.
The online studies programmes includes mathematics, Lao language and English, and are available on television, radio, Facebook and YouTube.
Teachers are using social media and messaging apps to contact students, support their studies, and to provide and check homework.
The Ministry of Education and Sports and members of the National Taskforce Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control are working together to closely monitor state and private schools and other educational institutions following the suspension of classes.
The Prime Minister’s Order also called for the closure of all local and international border crossings to restrict the entry and exit of individuals.
Entertainment venues, karaoke clubs, bars, massage parlours, spas, fitness centres, sports complexes and the night market are also closed, while all employees are continuing to work from home.
To prevent the spread of the virus, the Ministry of Health has advised everyone to limit contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections, frequently wash hands with soap, and to gargle with an antiseptic mouthwash.
People should also cover their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, preferably with a cloth or handkerchief, to reduce the spread of respiratory secretions.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update April 18, 2020)