Preparation for supporting the entry of the ASEAN Community

     The Senate Standing Committee on Education made a study visit on the preparation for supporting the entry of ASEAN Community to the related agencies in Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). The summary of the study visit is as follows:

     1. Royal Thai Embassy, Vientiane
     Mr. Udomsak Sritangos, Chargé d' Affaires, gave a briefing on Lao PDR which can be summarized as follows:

Foreign Affairs and International Economic Policies of the government of Lao PDR
     - Expedite the promotion and development of international relations with neighbouring countries.
     - Create unity and promote cooperation among ASEAN member countries in order to realize the goal of establishing the ASEAN Community.
     - Take on a creative role and promote the national interest in international organizations.
     - Strengthen cooperation and strategic partnership with countries, groups of countries and international organizations that play important roles in global affairs.
     - Promote a positive image and technical assistance with developing countries.
     - Promote public awareness and understanding of border issues and global changes that affect Lao PDR.
     - Support People Diplomacy.
     - Utilize transportation connectivity within the ASEAN region and sub-regions.
     - Coordinate the work of government agencies overseas.
     - Promote close cooperation with Muslim countries and international Islamic organizations.
     Implementation of Thai-Lao PDR Relations by Royal Thai Embassy, Vientiane
     - Peaceful border.
     - Security and prosperity of Lao PDR are regarded as security and prosperity of Thailand.
     - Strengthen sustainable mutual benefits which emphasize on narrowing the development gap, human resource development, education, public health along with trade, investment and tourism.
     - “Look beyond Laos”: Lao PDR is a potential country, not just a transit country. Apart from mutual benefits in a bilateral framework, multilateral cooperation under various frameworks should be promoted such as Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya- Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) and cooperation in the ASEAN framework. 
     - Generosity and flexibility: Relations between Thailand and Lao PDR seem like 
a close relative or a friendly neighbor.
     - Overlook a conflict in the past and focus on similarities rather than differences. 
     Look through 3C’s Strategy
     - Connectivity: International connectivity in various routes such as areas of North-South Economic Corridor and East-West Economic Corridor and areas along Northern Development Strategy.
     - Community: Narrow the development gap between former members and new members.
     - Competitiveness: Promote the competitiveness.
     ASEAN Economic Community
     - Accelerate to build up the competitiveness in the region.
     - Narrow the development gap of ASEAN member countries. It focuses on less developed ASEAN countries which can gain equal benefits from the economic integration of ASEAN.
     - Negotiate to expand the economic integration with countries outside the region by implementing Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, New Zealand and EU.
     Education Cooperation between Thailand and Lao PDR
     - Educational cooperation is a tool in the implementation of foreign policies of Thailand towards Lao PDR which meets the demand and responds to Lao PDR’s development goals.
     - Multi-level cooperation in a governmental level under supervision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education and educational institutions.
     Educational System of Lao PDR
     - The Ministry for Education and Sports has 22 subordinate Departments.
     - Educational levels are divided into Pre-primary Education, Primary School, Junior High School, Senior High School, Non-formal Education, Career Education or Vocational Education and Tertiary Education or Higher Education.
     - Educational system is in form of 11 years (5:3:3 system) which consists of 3-year Pre-primary Education, 5-year Primary School, 3-year Junior High School and 3-Year Senior High School.
     - Non-formal Education focuses on training adults in order to be literate and promote their professions and academic levels of officials.
     - Career Education or Vocational Education is divided into vocational schools which train labor techniques, 39 middle technical schools which train intermediate vocational technique and 89 higher technical schools which train high vocational technique. Furthermore, Lao PDR also has a physical education college, an arts education college and 5 teacher’s colleges.
     - Tertiary Education or Higher Education including Technical Education in high educational institution or university consists of National University of Laos having the teaching of 132 courses/fields, Champasak University having the teaching of 11 courses/ fields, Souphanouvong University having 15 courses/fields and Savannakhet University having 8 courses/fields.
     - The Ministry of Education and Sports has the educational cooperation with 
14 countries, namely Vietnam, China, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, India, Thailand, France, Malaysia, Singapore, Cuba, Mongolia and Cambodia. For the cooperation between Thailand and Lao PDR on the exchange of students or teachers, the Royal Thai Embassy in Vientiane has attempted to negotiate but it was not successful because of Communist Party’s educational policy and insufficient personnel of Lao PDR. Therefore, it is necessary to drive the cooperation through the public sector. The exchange program of students or teachers in Career Education or Vocational Education may be initiated because Lao PDR give priority to this field.
     Educational Preparation towards the ASEAN Community
     - Lao PDR demands to develop and raise educational standards to international acceptance. Therefore, Lao PDR places importance on educational cooperation in both bilateral and multilateral levels, especially in ASEAN Cooperation Framework. In this forum, Lao PDR has received fast development of education. When entering the ASEAN Community, rules and regulations on education must be amended. It is certain that Lao PDR will be able to respond immediately because of the public sector’s readiness and strength. In addition, Lao PDR has unity of policies which can actively implemented in various areas.

     2. Ministry of Education and Sports
     The Committee had a meeting and exchanged opinions on education with 
Dr. Phankham Viphavanh, Minister of Education and Sports with the following conclusion:      
     - Lao PDR has organized a new form of basic education which consists of 5-year Primary School, 3-Year Junior High School and 3-Year Senior High School. Therefore, 
a total period is 11 years. This is the reform of basic education to be consistent with the international system. After completing high school, students can further study in university or technical college. At present, Lao PDR has 5 universities, namely: National University of Laos (Dongdok Campus) which is located in Vientiane, University of Health Science which was found by the separation of a medical field such as Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy from National University of Laos, Souphanouvong University which is located in Luang Prabang for supporting students from Northern provinces, Savannakhet University and Champasak University which support students from Southern provinces. Further study at university uses an entrance examination system.
     Students who completed Senior High School can choose to study in Career Education or Vocational Education which is divided into Intermediate Vocational Certificate for 2 years and High Vocational Certificate for 3 years. Lao PDR has 22 technical colleges under Department of Vocational Education such as Polytechnic College, Pakpasak Technical College, Lao-German Technical College. Furthermore, Lao PDR also has many colleges having specific curriculum such as technical colleges, technical teacher colleges, law colleges including private educational institutions such as Lao-American College, Lao-Singapore Business College and Innovation Institute of Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani Province which teaches nursing and computer.
     - Lao PDR’s policy of educational development holds the principle of Education for All and top priority for education. The policy aims to have personnel and labour which correspond with economic and social development at present. However, Lao PDR still lacks teachers in primary school, especially in areas of ethnic groups and remote areas. For initial attempt to solution, Lao PDR made a policy which determines teachers to teach in different class levels. Moreover, grouping of schools has been organized in order to meet basic needs.
     - Lao PDR stimulates consciousness in culture and tradition of the youth and cooperates with Parent Association. Lao PDR’s culture is contained in educational curriculum of all levels until Higher Education. The subject in class involves Lao’s characteristics. Furthermore, Lao PDR also gives priority to cultural management for conserving good tradition of Lao PDR completely.
     - For the preparation towards the ASEAN Community, Lao PDR sets a curriculum to study ASEAN Culture Subject and World Around Us Subject and promotes the exchange of students and university students between Lao PDR and other countries.
     - Like many other countries, Lao PDR encounters the problem of game addiction among the youth. Nevertheless, the government has a solution to the problem of the supplement of sports in children’s activities. Therefore, the government has combined sport with the Ministry of Education until now becoming the Ministry of Education and Sports. 

     3. Pakpasak Technical College, Vientiane
     - Pakpasak Technical College organizes a teaching program with other countries. This is a prototype of Lao PDR’s vocational school which cooperates with the Ministry of Labor for creating a suitable curriculum. Pakpasak Technical College has studied the curriculum in many Asian countries and applied in the development of its own curriculum. At the moment, occupational standard is being developed.
     - Popular fields of study are accounting, electricity and electronics, automotive technology and tourism. For foreign language skills, students can understand English but they can not communicate well. Pakpasak Technical College organizes the teaching of English and other foreign languages such as Japanese and Chinese languages in the curriculum which is the cooperation with such native country. However, Pakpasak Technical College still does not teach languages of ASEAN member countries and does not have a plan to support this study in the future.
     - Most students who completed in Senior High School choose to study further at university because of the attitudes and social value in Lao PDR. It causes teaching in Career Education or Vocational Education to have a small number of students. Therefore, the government supports the budget to vocational colleges and allowance for students who choose to study Career Education or Vocational Education. Moreover, the interview test is used for the admission of students in order to reduce the process with more convenience.

Views and Suggestions from the Study Visit
     The Committee has the following opinions and recommendations.
     1. The preparation for the entry of the ASEAN Community should be implemented in civil servants, the private business sector, the public, and students. English is an important language for communication in the ASEAN Community. Therefore, Lao PDR must accelerate the potential development in English usage of people in various groups along with the development of learning in society, customs, tradition and culture of ASEAN member countries.
     2. Educational quality is an important factor towards the implementation of various areas for the preparation towards the ASEAN Community. Therefore, the Ministry of Education should raise the educational quality, especially in Vocational Education and Tertiary Education. Therefore, all parties must cooperate together for promoting students to learn and realize the importance of entering the ASEAN Community.
     3. The development of language skills in both English and languages of neighbouring countries in ASEAN is an important matter. Therefore, educational institutions must consider opening the curriculum or organize the training to various agencies of both the public sector and the private sector. Furthermore, the development of language skills in languages of ASEAN member countries and English can be implemented by government agencies. For example, Public Relations Department can cooperate with schools and universities in language skill development and educate language knowledge to students and the general public. In addition, government agencies may provide other useful information which is beneficial and close to the people and students such as rules and regulations for the occupation and investment in ASEAN.
     4. The exchange of students between Thailand and Lao PDR should be promoted and supported in various fields for preparing to enter the ASEAN Community. 
     5. Attitudes of students must be adjusted for turning their interest to study in Career Education or Vocational Education. It can be implemented by educating them about careers after finishing the education and future income which can create an incentive to students for turning to study more in Career Education or Vocational Education.
     6. The general public acknowledges only the ASEAN Economic Community because this matter is most related to their lives. Moreover, as the private and business sectors engage in public relations and disseminate information extensively, the people know more about the ASEAN Economic Community than the integration of ASEAN Community which comprises 3 pillars. Therefore, the building of awareness to the general public on ASEAN Community must be increasingly promoted. 
     7. Government agencies and various organizations must plan the implementation in advance for preparing to enter the ASEAN Community. They should consider their own potential, accelerate the elevation of labour standards, strengthen the leadership and promote the learning of various rules and regulations.
     8. An agency which coordinates and monitors the movement on the preparation for entering the ASEAN Community should be provided. Each province should implement this matter closely and may implement through Thailand Income Contingent Allowance and Loan (TICAL) in each province. A working group should be established in order to implement into a provincial agenda for producing concrete achievement. 

Keywords    Lao PDR, Education, ASEAN

Pillars        Economic, Socio-Cultural