Germany invests in vocational education
Germany invests in vocational education
The government of Germany will invest around 20 billion kip to enhance the quality and quantity of technical vocational education at the Lao-German Technical School in Vientiane.
The project, run in association with KfW German Development Bank, will fund the construction of two classroom and workshop buildings and equipment for the school's automotive technology and electrical engineering courses.
At the project's ground breaking ceremony on Wednesday, school Director Mr Somlith Virivong said the project will enable a further 500 students to receive technical education at the school in addition to the 800 current students.
He said the fund will also contribute to upgrading existing infrastructure throughout the school site like electrical and water supply.
Locally-based Sengthong Construction Development Group Company is set to begin construction on the two three-storey buildings shortly with the project slated for completion in around 15 months.
“This investment will improve the skills and competitiveness of Lao workers, especially with respect to Asean economic integration,” said Mr Robert von Rimscha, German Ambassador to Laos.
“Qualified workers lead to more successful firms and are the key to a dynamic private sector and economic development of this country.”
According to a statement from KfW German Development Bank, one of the main drivers of national economic development besides economic growth and a dynamic private sector is the qualification of the Lao workforce.
As a shortage of qualified skilled workers persists across several sectors in Laos, German support is aimed at training youth for the Lao labour market.
The ground breaking ceremony was attended by the Deputy Minister of Education and Sports Associate Professor Dr Kongsy Sengmany along with the attendance of other invited guests.
The Lao-German Technical School was founded in 1964 with German support. The school has trained over 10,000 students who have since been integrated into the labour market.
The Lao-German Technical School cooperates with several private sector firms to provide internships and on-the-job training to students and more than 90 percent of graduates find employment immediately after graduating as the demand of industry is high.
The German government through KfW and Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) Laos continues to support the vocational training sector in Laos. It is expected that between 2004 and 2015, a total of 10 vocational schools will have been extended, rehabilitated or newly constructed and equipped with machinery, teaching aids and tools in selected trades.
Six schools in the northern provinces of Oudomxay, Xieng Khuang, Luang Namtha, Phongsaly, Huaphan and Xayaboury, have been in operation since 2010. An additional three schools in Xekong, Saravan and Attapeu provinces, are currently being constructed.
KfW Development Bank is one of the world´s leading and most experienced promotional banks. Established in 1948 as a public law institution, KfW is owned 80 percent by the Federal Republic of Germany and 20 percent by the federal states. It carries out Germany´s Financial Cooperation (FC) with developing countries on behalf of the Federal Government.
Its goal is to combat poverty, secure the peace, protect the environment and the climate and make globalisation fair. KfW is a competent and strategic advisor on current development issues.
vientiane times
