Handing-over Ceremony with the Department of Non-formal Education, Ministry of Education and Sports

Tuesday, 20 February 2024, 10 a.m.   DVV International and the Department for Non-Formal Education (DNFE) of the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) celebrated their long-standing cooperation in a Handing-Over and Signing Ceremony at the premises of DVV International’s Regional Office in Vientiane.

The ceremony was attended by more than 60 persons, including H.E. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phout Simmalavong, Minister of Education and Sports and the German Ambassador to Lao PDR, Mrs. Annette Knobloch.

DVV International, the German Adult Education Association, supports the establishment of sustainable structures for adult education and lifelong learning in Lao PDR. For many years, the Department of Non-Formal Education (DNFE) in the Ministry of Education and Sports has been its main partner. In the ceremony, DVV International and the DNFE reaffirmed their commitment to the mutual objectives. 1,500 diaries, 750 calendars and 300 Lifelong Learning Newsletters were handed over to DNFE. The handing over certificate was signed by Ms. Philany Phissamay, Deputy Director General of the Department and Mr. Christoph Jost, Regional Director for Southeast Asia of DVV International. The two sides further signed an agreement on the activities that will be carried out with financial support from the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) in the year 2024. These activities will focus on the further implementation of the Decree for Lifelong Learning through a cross-sectoral policy dialogue, the further roll-out of the lifelong concept in teacher training colleges, the use of digital tools in equivalency and basic vocational skills programs and the establishment of four model community learning centers where proven and new adult education approaches will be tested and implemented at the local level.

In his speech, Dr. Phout Simmalavong congratulated the two partners for their longstanding cooperation and recognized the valuable and positive impacts as regards access to quality education for youth and adults. The German Ambassador, Mrs Annette Knobloch, stressed that education and the development of human capital play pivotal roles in the development of the Lao PDR. She encouraged DNFE and all other partners to continue their promising journey to make lifelong learning a reality in the country. Mr. Christoph Jost shared experiences and results from the successful cooperation and announced that DVV’s Regional Office Southeast Asia will celebrate 15 years of presence in Laos in the end of the current year.

DVV International is the International Institute of the German Adult Education Association (DVV). As leading professional organisation in the field of adult education and development, DVV International has committed itself to supporting lifelong learning for more than 50 years. In Lao PDR, DVV International cooperates since 2009 with the Department of Non-Formal Education of the MoES.