Japan, UNICEF launch scheme to restore education post-pandemic 

The Government of Japan and UNICEF have offered a budget of US$621,000 from 2022 to 2023 to help mitigate the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on children’s learning.
The newly announced Japan-UNICEF partnership will contribute towards recovery from the impacts of the pandemic on education in Laos through digital options.
Speaking at an event on Wednesday to launch the initiative, Minister of Education and Sports Associate Professor Dr Phout Simmalavong said “We are facing the most challenging time ever in education.”

The Ambassador of Japan to Laos, Mr Kenichi Kobayashi (left), and Associate Professor Dr Phout Simmalavong chair an education meeting on Wednesday.

The remedial learning programme and upskilling of teachers through digital options supported by the Government of Japan will play an invaluable role at this important time, he added.
The partnership recognises the importance of introducing innovative digital tools and technologies in classrooms and as part of teaching and learning.
Support by Japan and UNICEF will be provided for a period of one year, with key assistance including the development and distribution of digital and offline learning materials and teacher training on digital skills, to provide ‘recovery learning’ for pre-primary and primary school children.
This includes the provision of learning content made available nationally through the Ministry of Education and Sports’ digital teaching and learning platform, Khang Panya Lao, with UNICEF’s support.
The intervention will address the urgent need to help the most marginalised children in Laos to access remedial and accelerated learning opportunities to prevent drop-out and narrow the learning gap.
Learning materials will include Braille textbooks to assist children with visual impairments.
Over the past three years, the Ministry of Education and Sports has attempted to shield children from the effects of the pandemic.
Despite this, children across the country have missed out on learning for extended periods during school closures, putting many children at higher risk of learning loss and drop-out from school.
Significant loss of learning due to the pandemic has come at a major cost, not only to individual children, but also to the future productivity of Laos.
The Japan-UNICEF partnership also recognises the centrality of teachers in learning recovery efforts.
Upskilling teachers in digital learning and pedagogies will be implemented in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Together with JICA, both pre-service and in-service teachers in target provinces will receive training using blended learning approaches in mathematics.  
“Teachers are essential to recovering learning loss caused by the pandemic and in transforming the education system to meet the needs of Lao children in the 21st century,” UNICEF Representative to Laos Dr Pia Rebello Britto said.
Also speaking at the event, the Ambassador of Japan to Laos, Mr Kenichi Kobayashi, said “Many children lost chances to learn at school due to closures. Solid partnerships are necessary if we are to stand together to address the adverse impacts on children as a result of the pandemic.” 
The right interventions at the right time can bolster development. By working together under this new partnership between the Ministry of Education and Sports, Japan and UNICEF, much can be achieved to help children in Laos catch up on lost learning and to build greater resiliency into the education system, he added.

By Phetphoxay Sengpaseuth
 (Latest Update July 22, 2022)