Preamble

Academic year 2016-2017 is the 2nd year of the VIIIth 5 year Education and Sports
Development Plan (ESDP) (2016-2020), the goal of which indicates that "The Education
and Sports Sector in Lao PDR is appropriately structured and resourced to create
opportunity for all Lao citizens to have equitable access to quality education and sports
and to benefit from socio-economic development in order for the Lao PDR to be eligible
to graduate from least developed country status by 2020." Beside that, the goal of this 5
year plan is to continue implementing the Millennium Development Goals, especially the
ones that have not been achieved and to implement Sustainable Development Goal 4 1.
Therfore, the purpose of the Annual Education Development Plan 2016-2017 is to
implement policies, strategies, targets and the priority activities identified in the VIIlth 5
Year Plan (2016-2020). The priority activities of the education and sports development
plan 2016-2017 will focus on the wide expansion of pre-school, particularly the expansion
of pre-primary classes and focus on improving the quality of teaching and learning in
primary and secondary education. Beside these the quality improvement of the teacher
training and upgrading is necessary and urgent in order to integrate and compete with
countries in the region and the world. The Ministry of Education and Sports will work with
all parties concerned to focus on public and private partnerships in workforce development
that can meet the needs of the labor market.
The Operational Annual Plan 2016-2017 was based on the achievements and challenges in
the implementation of the annual plan 2015-2016 and based on policies identified in the
Education and Sports Sector Development Plan (2016-2020). The quantitative data in this
report is based on the Education Management Information System, whereas qualitative
data is from annual reports of the Provincial Education and Sports Service, line
departments, centers and educational institutons across the Ministry of Education and
Sports. In addition, the contents of this planning document was approved by The
Educational Annual Conference in 2016 which was held from 30 June to 1 July 2016 in
Vientiane Capital.
It is therefore advised to all departments, Provincial and Vientiane Capital Education and
Sports Service, Departments and Educational Institutes affiliated with the Ministry of
Education and Sports, to review and apply this report as a foundation for research; and
efficient and effective implementation of programmes at each respective level in order to
fully and timely achieve the stated goals. Moreover, it is necessary for staff at all levels to
pay due attention to the monitoring, inspection, evaluation and periodic and
comprehensive reporting of progress and chal1enges to Ministry of Education and Sports.

1 SDG 4: Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning
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