On the morning of February 27, 2024, the opening ceremony of the second in-China training program for educational administrators under the Project for Enhancing the Quality and Capacity of Rural Teachers in Laos was held at Shicheng Lecture Hall of the UNESCO Teacher Education Centre (hereinafter referred to as the Centre). Mr. Keth PHANLACK, Director of the Teacher Training Department, Ministry of Education and Sports of Laos; Professor Zhang Minxuan, Director of the Centre; Miao Hongcai, President of Shanghai Education Publishing House; and Professor Hu Guoyong, Deputy Director of the Centre, attended the ceremony and delivered speeches.
First, Director Keth PHANLACK expressed gratitude for the long-term support of the Chinese government for the project, acknowledged the professional guidance provided by the Centre during the project implementation, and hoped that all Lao participants in the training program would gain valuable insights from their studies. Subsequently, President Miao Hongcai reviewed the implementation process of the project, summarized the numerous achievements made, and expressed good expectations for future cultural cooperation between China and Laos. Finally, starting from the long-standing friendly exchanges between China and Laos, Professor Zhang Minxuan, Director of the Centre, introduced the Centre’s development history, functions, and missions, and expressed hope that the smooth implementation of this project would play a positive role in cultivating Lao educational administrators and promoting teacher professional development.
After the opening ceremony, Professor Zhang Minxuan delivered a lecture on the theme of Global Trends in Teacher Education, focusing on School Teachers: The World’s New Expectations. He introduced several key trends in future teacher professional development to over 50 participants, including officials from various departments of the Lao Ministry of Education, officials from provincial education bureaus, presidents of normal colleges, and heads of educational research institutions. A Q&A session was held after the lecture.
In the coming week, the Centre will organize the training program participants to engage in one school visit, three thematic lectures, and six group discussions centered on China’s Educational Experience. Covering both theory and practice, these activities will fully showcase multiple measures and diverse approaches in China’s educational modernization and basic education reform, providing assistance and support for Laos’ future educational development.
