Teachers advised to refine instruction techniques

As the new school year begins, teachers are advised to prepare and develop new teaching methods to help students adapt to the circumstances brought about by the Covid-19 outbreak.
Minister of Education and Sports, Associate Prof. Dr Phouth Simmalavong, gave the advice to education administrators, teachers and children in a message to mark the start of the new academic year on Monday.
The ministry has authorised the start of classes at kindergartens, schools, colleges and universities and other education centres in areas that have no Covid cases, although strict virus prevention measures must be enforced. Places of education in Vientiane and the provinces that are in areas at risk of a virus outbreak or where locally-transmitted cases have been reported will remain closed until further notice.

Associate Prof. Dr Phouth advised teachers and students to continue with distance studies through online classes, television broadcasts and the ministry’s Kangpanyalao learning database so that students can keep up with the syllabus and achieve learning goals.Teachers should coordinate with parents to help children with online learning at home and should also visit students to give them more assistance if needed.
In rural areas where there is limited access to distance learning, teachers should give homework and provide textbooks, while parents are advised to supervise their children’s studies.
With regard to schools that are allowed to reopen, the ministry has advised officials in education and sports departments in the provinces to coordinate with provincial taskforces for Covid-19 prevention and control to decide in which areas schools can reopen. Administrators must ensure that schools are clean and safe from infection and are able to offer classes as normal.
Education administrators and teachers should also ensure they are fully vaccinated against Covid.
Schools must install handwashing basins, provide soap and face masks, provide more classroom space, and arrange seating so that students do not sit close together. Everyone must have their temperature checked before entering school premises.
A ceremony to start the new academic year across the country took place on Monday, with senior officials from the Ministry of Education and Sports and representatives from Champassak, Savannakhet and Huaphan taking part by videoconference.
In Vientiane and the provinces of Champassak and Savannakhet that have high-risk areas for virus outbreaks, local authorities have postponed school registration and entrance exams to colleges, universities and vocational education centres.
The new school year was scheduled to begin on September 1 but due to the rising number of Covid infections and to prevent the spread of the virus in schools, provincial Education and Sports Departments have postponed the start of classes until further notice.

By Times Reporters
  (Latest Update September 7, 2021)