The High-level Steering Committee for Lifelong Learning met for the first time on 5 March 2025 in Vientiane Capital under the chairmanship of His Excellency Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phout Simmalavong, Minister of Education and Sports. The meeting was organized in a hybrid format with both on-site and online participants. Among the about 90 participants were deputy ministers from central-level ministries, state agencies equivalent to ministries, local government agencies, mass organizations, stakeholders, the heads and deputy heads of education and sports of the provinces, and the regional director and advisors from DVV International to attend the meeting.
The purpose of the meeting was to raise awareness at the national level about the essential and beneficial nature of lifelong learning for the socio-economic development, and to formally endorse and approve the National Action Plan for Lifelong Learning (NAP for LLL). Furthermore, the meeting aimed to initiate the implementation of the Action Plan and to ensure that lifelong learning remains a priority on the national agenda, and to advocate for its importance.
Following the endorsement and approval by the officials of the High-Level Steering Committee Action Plan is now to be considered in the National Socio-Economic Development Plan (NSEDP). This is also required to create ownership of all ministries involved and to assure that activities of the NAP for LLL will not be implemented in an isolated manner.