Glossary of Terms for Education Development in Lao PDR

G

lossary

Historical Glossary of Terms for Education

Development in Lao PDR

Latest Update

January 21,

2014

Richard & Vithanya Noonan

Copyleft © Richard & Vithanya Noonan Vientiane: Samizdat, 2014

Cover: Ari Vitikainen

Ver. 53.1

R. & V. Noonan, 2015-01-21 53rd Edition

i

Table of Contents

Table of Contents ....................................................................................................................... i List of Annex Figures ................................................................................................................ i List of Annex Tables ................................................................................................................. ii List of Annex Boxes .................................................................................................................. ii Preface ...................................................................................................................................... iii Glossary .................................................................................................................................... vi

0 – 9........................................................................................................................................ 1 A ............................................................................................................................................ 2 B ............................................................................................................................................ 5 C ............................................................................................................................................ 6 D .......................................................................................................................................... 11 E ........................................................................................................................................... 14 F ........................................................................................................................................... 18 G .......................................................................................................................................... 21 H .......................................................................................................................................... 22 I ............................................................................................................................................ 23 J............................................................................................................................................ 26 K .......................................................................................................................................... 27 L ........................................................................................................................................... 27 M.......................................................................................................................................... 31 N .......................................................................................................................................... 33 O .......................................................................................................................................... 36 P ........................................................................................................................................... 37 Q .......................................................................................................................................... 41 R .......................................................................................................................................... 42 S ........................................................................................................................................... 43 T ........................................................................................................................................... 48 U .......................................................................................................................................... 51 V .......................................................................................................................................... 52 W ......................................................................................................................................... 54 X Y Z ................................................................................................................................ 55

ANNEX .................................................................................................................................... 56 ANNEX FIGURES ................................................................................................................... 57 ANNEX TABLES .................................................................................................................... 62 ANNEX BOXES ...................................................................................................................... 67

List of Annex Figures

Figure 1: School System Structure as of School Year 2014/2015 ...................................... 57

Figure 2: Alternate School Forms as of School Year 2012/2013 ....................................... 58

Figure 3: Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Forms ................................. 59

Figure 4: Typical School Cluster: Core School and Satellite Schools ............................... 59

Figure 5: Implementation Plan for Teacher Education 2010/10 to 2014/15 ..................... 60

Figure 6: General, TVET, and IVET Streams after Lower Secondary Education ......... 60

Figure 7: MOES Organization Chart (September, 2014) .................................................. 61


ii

List of Annex Tables

Table 1: PESS and DEBS Organization .............................................................................. 62

Table 2: Universities and Faculties ...................................................................................... 62

Table 3: Ethno-Linguistic Groups and their Population Distribution, 2005 .................... 63

Table 4: Lao Education for All (EFA) - Number of Objectives, Targets, and Activities 64

Table 5: Lao National Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for Education ............. 64

Table 6: Official Names of Lao Government Structure, as of July 2014 .......................... 65

Table 7: Spelling of Provinces and Common Place Names ................................................ 66

List of Annex Boxes

Box 1: Summary Timeline for General Education Policy Development, from 1990 ....... 67


iii

PREFACE

Aims and Scope. This Glossary is intended as an

aid for reading and writing English-language

documents about education development in Laos.

It lists more than 2000 abbreviations, terms,

expressions, and definitions in official or common

usage found in literature specifically concerning

development of education and training in Lao

PDR.

Where usage is primarily associated with one

organization, that fact is noted. No organization

has a monopoly on words, however, and terms

originating in one organizational context can

migrate to others, sometimes with slightly

modified form or meaning. Wherever possible,

such variations are noted. Terms originating in

individual projects are entered into the Glossary

only if they gain significant usage outside the im-

mediate project context.

Expert agencies and NGOs are listed but con-

sulting firms are not, although the distinction is

sometimes fuzzy. Universities are listed when the

role involves academic research or teaching.

Standardization of Terminology. The reader

is encouraged to avoid proliferation of out-of-date

or non-standard terms and abbreviations, such as

use of FD (Finance Department) to refer to DOF

(Department of Finance) or TTD (Teacher Train-

ing Department) to refer to the DTE (Department

of Teacher Education). We have tried to note out-

of-date terminology and give references to

relevant current terminology.

Lexicographical Conventions. The use of

upper and lower case letters follows standard

English lexicographical convention: proper names

and names of specific official documents or

specific and mathematically defined terms, are

spelled with first-letter capitals, while common

terms are spelled with lower case letters. For

abbreviations, terms, and expressions themselves,

common usage has been the guide to use of upper

and lower case.

New terms and abbreviations are entered as

the authors find them relevant and their usage sig-

nificant. A liberal approach has been taken with

regard to meanings. Language is organic,

constantly changing as new concepts emerge and

old concepts fall into disuse. This Glossary is

continuously updated, as new abbreviations,

terms, and expressions come into usage. We aim

to achieve both formal accuracy in the use of

official abbreviations and representative coverage

of the way terms are used in wider practice.

Cross-references are given where needed. Hyper-

links facilitate cross-referencing on electronic

media.

A conservative approach has been taken in

retaining older terminology, even long after the

terms have fallen into disuse, in order to facilitate

reading of older documents. Wherever possible,

when old abbreviations have officially fallen from

usage, that fact is noted, but the entry is retained.

Historical terms and abbreviations included

here are noted as such in square brackets:

[Formerly], referring to relatively recent

changes;

[History], referring to changes in the more

distant past, usually before the Revolution in

1975;

[Dated], referring to terms outdated by more

modern terminology but still in use in some

vernacular writing.

Note that in September 2011 the Ministry of

Education (MOE) was reorganized and renamed

Ministry of Education and Sports (MOES). In the

references below we always use the contemporary

abbreviation.

All document references are to English

language publications unless otherwise noted.

Some historical terms are in French, which

was used in school system nomenclature and

English language documents well into the 1970s

before the Revolution in 1975 and in some

documents even long after the Revolution. Such

terms in French are listed here only if they appear

in English language documents. Note also that the

French language is still used in the names of

government schools in some areas.

Some writers mix lower- and upper-case

letters in abbreviations (e.g., MoES for Ministry

of Education and Sports), while others use full

upper case abbreviations (e.g., MOES). For

simplicity no such distinctions are made here, and

with some few exceptions full upper case

abbreviations are used.

Many organizations have “Lao” as part of the

official name, e.g., Lao Women’s Union (LWU).


iv

The abbreviations of some Lao organizations,

however, are modified for use in international

context, such as conference presentations. For

example, the National Commission for the

Advancement of Women, abbreviated in the Lao

context as NCAW, can be found in international

context abbreviated as LaoNCAW. For the sake

of simplicity we record here only the national

form, e.g., NCAW.

Statistical Terminology. We find that

common statistical terms and abbreviations are

often confused by readers and sometimes misused

by writers. We therefore include here not only the

abbreviations and the names of indicators but also

the formal definitions. This document, however,

is intended only as a glossary, not a technical

reference manual. In all cases we have taken the

definitions directly from the UNESCO Institute

for Statistics (UIS) website: www.uis.unesco.org

Note that not all valid and well-defined

statistical indicators commonly found in the

literature and listed here are defined by UIS. With

some few exceptions, in such cases no formal

definitions are given. Where possible, we

reference what we consider to be the nearest

equivalent UIS indicator. For the sake of

standardization of indicators, we urge all parties

to use only those indicators that are defined by

UIS where possible and to follow the UIS

definitions rigorously. This may not be possible

in the case of household surveys or other studies

that do not access school records (e.g., see Net

Attendance Ratio).

It should be understood, however, that the

UIS technical guidelines are revised from time to

time. Moreover in some cases an indicator is

defined on the website but not in the most recent

technical guidelines. It is beyond the scope of this

Glossary to track these changes, but they are

recorded where they have been noted.

Language Issues. Some organizations are

known by abbreviations based on their official

names in languages other than English. If an

official or widely used English translation has

been found, it is reported here. If no such

translation has been found, we have provided our

own direct translation together with the note

“Author trans.”

Many Lao organizations do not have official

English names, and even where they do they are

1 [email protected].

often not widely known or used. Instead trans-

lators and other writers often make up their own

translations and abbreviations, which leads to a

proliferation of English names and abbreviations

for the same organization. Where possible,

reference is made below to the official names and

abbreviations. It is likely nevertheless that some

redundancies appear due to the same organization

appearing under different names.

For simplicity, no distinction is made between

pupil and student, and the broader term “student”

is used throughout. Similarly, no distinction is

made between teacher and instructor, and the

term “teacher” is used throughout.

Some Lao words and expressions frequently

found in English language texts are included in

this Glossary. It should be noted, however, that

there is no standard transliteration between the

Lao script and the Latin alphabet (“writing Lao in

karaoke”). The spellings given here are those

often appearing in English language writings.

Graphics. All graphic images shown in the

Annex are available in electronic format (*.bmp

or *.png) on request.1 Images can also be pro-

vided in *.jpg format, but *.png (Portable Net-

work Graphics) is superior for line diagrams such

as those used here because it is a lossless com-

pression format that can be read by all Microsoft

products and most other standard software.

Keeping Up-to-Date. The focus of this

Glossary has always been within the ambit of the

Ministry of Education and Sports (MOES), but

today, many ministries and other agencies provide

educational services to the public as Laos moves

gradually toward an “education society”. This

Glossary has therefore also moved beyond the

ambit of MOES into a wider discoursal space.

Where terminology and abbreviations are

associated exclusively or mainly with a ministry

other than MOES, the relevant ministry is noted

where possible. While we can claim relatively

good coverage of the education sector, however,

coverage of other sectors will remain scanty.

We now include also definitions of special

terms originating in specialized international

organizations, such as UNESCO. Except for

statistical terminology referred to above, no

http://www.uis.unesco.org/


v

attempt is made to provide authoritative defini-

tions, but only to reflect the best informed usage

in the discourse in Laos.

We note with satisfaction that in recent years

a “new generation” of international terminology

has begun to enter the education literature in Laos,

and we need to reflect this new terminology here.

Thus such terms as “BarCamp”, MOOC, and

MOODLE took proud place beginning with the

51st Edition.

We have also begun to include general

definitions of what we perceive to be emergent

terminology in the Lao context. Thus such terms

as “blended learning” and “cognitive mobility”

are listed. For more precise and contextually valid

definitions, the reader is encouraged to consult the

relevant academic literature. If and when they

enter mainstream terminology in the literature on

education in Laos, we will remove them from this

Glossary.

In recognition of the significant contribution

of Buddhist education, we now include abbrevia-

tions, terms, and expressions from the literature on

Buddhist education in Laos. We have no expertise

in this field, and we take no position on

theological, ideological, or linguistic issues.

Definitions we provide are taken from the relevant

literature, but the reader should be aware that

words with very concrete meanings can also have

religiously significant symbolic meanings. Our

sole aim is to help the informed lay reader gain a

general understanding the Buddhist education

system in Laos.

In keeping with the widening of the focus of

the Glossary, we now include some references to

copyrighted materials (indicated by ® in the

entries) when they appear in literature falling

within the aims and scope of the Glossary as noted

above.

In view of the continued use of very outdated

terminology related to ethnicity, we have added

Annex Table 3 with a historical note on ethnic

groups in Laos.

Because we often find that incorrect and/or

outdated names used in reference to the various

ministries, we include a list of official English-

language names of Lao ministries (Annex Table

6). Similarly a list of provinces and common

place names is also provided (Annex Table 7).

Finally, in Annex Box 1 we provide a brief

historical timeline of seminal events in the

development of national education policy since

1990. This will gradually expand as gaps are

filled in.

Additional Sources. This Glossary is

intended to cover the education sector, even

though we sometimes have been compelled to

widen the scope somewhat. For much wider

reference, the best single source would be Martin

Stuart-Fox, Historical Dictionary of Laos,

published in numerous editions, including the title

The A to Z of Laos.

Appreciation. We would like to thank our

many colleagues in the Ministry of Education and

Sports, development partner agencies, NGOs, and

others who have contributed over the years to the

development of this Glossary, the first edition of

which was prepared in 1995. Inevitably, errors

and omissions remain, for which we alone take

responsibility. We invite readers to kindly inform

us of any flaws they find, either where relevant

terms are missing or where errors are found.

We would like to thank Ari Vitikainen for the

cover collage and design.

The reader is also encouraged to visit the

MOES website at: www.moe.gov.la

For an English-Lao bilingual glossary of

selected terms related to education system organ-

ization and management, published by the

Ministry with UNESCO support in 2003, see:

http://www.moe.gov.la/data/publications/9-

Glossary-Education-Terms-Bul1(6x9).pdf

The latest edition of this present Glossary will

always be available for downloading at:

http://tc.academia.edu/RichardNoonan

This Glossary and a collection of other useful

documents for can be found in the Resources for

Education Research in Laos Dropbox below.

That Dropbox was initiated by Ari Vitikainen and

is maintained by Ari and the authors of this

Glossary.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/e79x3gsvmm94rsw

/AACBoKMizvuH1V5BsQpc7-pFa

R. & V. Noonan

Vientiane, January 21, 2015

http://www.moe.gov.la/

http://www.moe.gov.la/data/publications/9-Glossary-Education-Terms-Bul1(6x9).pdf

http://www.moe.gov.la/data/publications/9-Glossary-Education-Terms-Bul1(6x9).pdf

http://tc.academia.edu/RichardNoonan

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/e79x3gsvmm94rsw/AACBoKMizvuH1V5BsQpc7-pFa

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/e79x3gsvmm94rsw/AACBoKMizvuH1V5BsQpc7-pFa


vi

GLOSSARY


1

0 – 9

Note to readers of this section: Beginning in the

2009/2010 school year the structure of the school

system was changed from an 11-year 5+3+3 system

to a 12-year 5+4+3 system. Thus all references to

the 11-year system (e.g., 5+3, 8+3, 11+2, etc.) are

historical. Corresponding current references would

reflect this reform (e.g., 5+4, 9+3, 12+2, etc.).

0. [Formerly]. See Grade 0.

11+1. [History]. 1. Qualification for primary school

teachers, based on completion of upper secondary

schooling (eleven years of schooling) plus one year

of teacher education and training. 2. Any combin-

ation of schooling involving five years of primary

school, three years of lower secondary school,

three years of upper secondary school, and one

year of additional education or training. (See

Annex Figure 5).

11+2. [History]. 1. Technician Diploma level

course. 2. Qualification for pre-school and

primary school teachers, based on completion of

upper secondary schooling (eleven years of

schooling) plus two years of teacher education and

training. 3. Any combination of schooling

involving five years of primary school, three years

of lower secondary school, three years of upper

secondary school, and two year of additional

education or training. (See Annex Figure 5).

11+3. [History]. 1. Technician Diploma level

course. 2. Qualification for pre-school and

primary school teachers, based on completion of

upper secondary schooling (eleven years of

schooling) plus three years of teacher education

and training. 3. Any combination of schooling

involving five years of primary school, three years

of lower secondary school, three years of upper

secondary school, and three years of additional

education or training. (See Annex Figure 5).

12+2. TVET Technician Diploma program based on

a two-year program after completion of upper

secondary schooling.

12+3. TVET Diploma program based on a three-year

program after completion of upper secondary

schooling.

2020 Goal. The long-term goal of exiting the status

of Least Developed County by 2020, set by the 6th

Party Congress in March 1996, refined and re-

affirmed by each succeeding Party Congress.

(Also referred to as 2020 Strategy, 2020 Vision,

Vision 2020). (See LDC, definition 1; Notes to

LDC).

3 Builds. See Three Builds.

3 Characteristics of Education. Lao: 3 Laksana.

See Three Characteristics of Education.

3 Laksana. See Three Characteristics of Education.

3 Pillars. See Three Pillars of Education Sector

Development.

3 Revolutions. See Three Revolutions.

3+3. [History]. Primary school cycle under the RLG

comprising three years of lower primary and three

years of upper primary.

4 Breakthroughs. See Four Breakthroughs.

4 Pillars of Education. See Four Pillars of

Education.

4 Pillars of Poverty Eradication Strategy. Also

Four Sectors of Poverty Eradication Strategy. See

Four Pillars of Poverty Eradication Strategy.

4+1+1. School construction design that includes 4

classrooms, a multi-use room that supports science

teaching and provides space for a library, and a

teacher-resource room.

4+2. [History]. Four years of primary schooling

followed by two years of lower secondary

schooling, in the Liberated Zone from the early

1960s until 1975.

5 Domains of Education. Also 5 Principles of

Education. Lao: 5 Lakmoun. See Five Domains of

Education.

5 Lakmoun. See Five Domains of Education.

5 Principles of Education. Lao: 5 Lakmoun. See

Five Domains of Education.

5 Priority Programs. See Five Priority Programs.

5+3+3. [History]. Eleven year school system

structure comprising five years of primary, three

years of lower secondary, and three years of upper

secondary schooling, to be replaced in school year

2009/2010. (See 5+4+3).

5+4. [History]. Qualification for primary school

teachers based on completion of primary school

(five years of schooling) plus four years of teacher

education and training, targeted specifically on

preparing teachers from remote and ethnic com-

munities. (See Annex Figure 5).

5+4+3. Twelve year school system structure

comprising five years of primary, four years of

lower secondary, and three years of upper

secondary schooling, implemented from school

year 2009/2010. (See Annex Figure 1).

5-Pointed Star. See Five Pointed Star.

5S-model. [Japanese]. Seiri (Clearing, Sorting,

Tidiness), Seiton (Organizing, Orderliness), Seiso

(Cleaning, Cleanliness), Seiketsu (Standardizing),

Shitsuke (Discipline, Commitment). (Slogan used

in TVET).

6 Principles of Education. See Six Principles of

Education.


2

6 Principles of Education Reform. See Six

Principles of Education Reform.

6+1. [History]. Under the RLG until 1964, primary

teacher qualifications, comprising completion of

six years primary school plus one year of teacher

training. (See Annex Figure 5; see also 6+4).

6+4. [History]. Under the RLG 1965-1968, primary

teacher qualifications, comprising completion of

six years primary school plus four years of teacher

training. (See Annex Figure 5; see also 6+1,

6+4+1).

6+4+1. [History]. Under the RLG after 1968, upper

primary teacher qualifications, comprising com-

pletion of six years primary school plus four years

of teacher training for lower primary qualification

plus one additional year. (See Annex Figure 5; see

also 6+1, 6+4).

7NSEDP. 7th NSEDP.

8 Priorities. See Eight Priorities.

8+3. 1. Vocational Certificate course. 2. [History].

Any combination of schooling involving five years

of primary school, three years of lower secondary

school, and three years of additional education or

training. (See Annex Figure 5). 3. [History].

Qualification for primary school teachers, based on

completion of lower secondary schooling (eight

years of schooling) plus three years of teacher

education and training.

9+1, 9+2, 9+3. TVET Certificate program based on a

three-year continuous curriculum program after

completion of lower secondary schooling. (See

TVET Certificate, VC I to VC III).

A

AAA. Analytical and Advisory [work, services].

(WB).

AACTE. [History]. American Association of

Colleges for Teacher Education.

AAF. Australia Awards Fellowships. (Formerly

ALAF. See also AAS).

AANZFTA. ASEAN, Australia and New Zealand

for a Free Trade Agreement.

AAOU. Asian Association of Open Universities.

AAR Japan. Association for Aid and Relief. (NGO,

Japan).

AAS. Australia Awards Scholarship. (Formerly

ADS).

ABEL. Access to Basic Education in Laos (2006-

2011). (External financing by AusAID, through

partnership with UNICEF and WFP).

Abhidhamma [Pitaka]. Pali: [literally “Basket”,

hence collection of] Scholarly discourses on the

doctrinal material appearing in the Suttas,

providing summaries or enumerated lists. (See

also Tipitaka).

ABV. Australian Business Volunteers. (NGO).

ACCU. Asia-Pacific Cultural Center for UNESCO.

(UNESCO Bangkok).

ACDA. Aid Children with Disability Association.

(Lao NPA, definition 2).

ACESP. Annual Costed Education Sector Plan.

(Also ACSEP; ACSP).

ACF. French: Action Contre la Faim. Action

Against Hunger. (NGO, France).

ACR. All Children Reading. (Partnership between

USAID, Australian Aid and World Vision).

ACS. Average Class Size.

ACSEP. Annual Costed Sector Plan. (Also ACESP,

ACSP).

ACSP. Annual Costed Sector Plan. (Also ACESP;

ACSEP).

ACSS. ASEAN Community Statistical System.

Action skills. Skills in applying knowledge in

practice, including planning, organizing, setting

goals, and implementing; doing, as opposed to

knowing.

ACTS. ASEAN Credit Transfer System. (Facilitates

physical and virtual student mobility among AUN

member universities).

ACU. ASEAN Cyber University.

ADB. Asian Development Bank.

Historical Note: ADB began operations in Laos in

1968 under the RLG.

ADBI. Asian Development Bank Institute.

ADF. Asian Development Fund. (ADB).

Adjusted Net Attendance Ratio. Note: UIS does

not define this statistic (see NERA), but it is used

in household sample surveys which do not access

school records, such as MICS. There it is defined

for primary level as the percentage of children of

the official primary school age who are attending

primary or secondary school, and for secondary

level as the percentage of children of the official

secondary school age who are attending secondary

school or higher. (Compare with Adjusted Net

Enrollment Rate).

Adjusted Net Enrollment Rate. (NERA). UIS

Definition: For primary level, it is defined as the

total number of students of the official primary

school age group who are enrolled at either

primary or secondary education levels, expressed

as a percentage of the corresponding population.

(Also ANER). (Compare with Age-Specific

Enrollment Rate, GER, NER).


3

ADOR. Average Dropout Rate. Note: UIS does not

define this statistic. (See DR).

ADPC. Asian Disaster Preparedness Center.

(Pathumthani, Thailand).

ADR. Assessment of Development Results.

(Evaluation of UNDP’s contribution).

ADRA. Adventist Development and Relief Agency.

(NGO, international).

ADS. [Formerly]. Australian Development

Scholarship. (See AAS).

ADTA. Advisory Technical Assistance (ADB; see

also AOTA).

AEAsea[SEA]. French: Aide et Action. Aid and Action

Southeast Asia. Author trans. (INGO; see AEAI).

AEAi[I]. French: Aide et Action [International]. Aid

and Action [International]. Author trans. (INGO,

Switzerland).

AEC2015[2015]. ASEAN Economic Community. (To

be established December 31, 2015). (See also

AFTA).

AED. Academy for Educational Development.

(NGO, USA).

AF. Additional Financing. (WB).

AfA. Association for Autism. (Lao NPA, definition

2).

AFAM. Administrative, Financial, and Accounting

Manual.

AFD. French: Agence Française de Développement.

French Development Agency.

AFESIP. French: Agir pour les Femmes en Situation

Précaire. Acting for Women in Distressing

Circumstances. (NGO, Cambodia).

AFS. Audited financial statement.

AFSC. American Friends Service Committee.

(NGO, USA). (See also QSL).

AFTA. ASEAN Free Trade Area. (See also AEC).

Historical Note: Established 1992, with Lao

membership since 1997.

Age-Specific Enrollment Rate. UIS Definition:

Percentage of the population of a specific age

enrolled, irrespective of the level of education.

Sometimes used to calculate ASER by individual

levels of education, e.g., primary. (Compare with

Adjusted Net Enrollment Rate, Gross Enrollment

Ratio, Net Enrollment Rate).

AgriNet. Agricultural Learning Network [for the

Northern Uplands].

AIA. ASEAN Investment Area.

AIDS. Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome.

(Sometimes incorrectly listed as Auto Immuno-

deficiency Syndrome.)

AIM. Asian Institute of Management. (Manila)

AIP. Annual Implementation Plan.

AIR. Apparent Intake Rate.

AIT. Asian Institute of Technology. (Hanoi).

Aj. Lao: See Ajan.

Ajan. Also Achan. Lao: 1. Teacher, typically at

secondary or higher level. (Compare with Ku).

2. Title used to address education officials

respected for their knowledge. (Compare with

Maha).

ALA. Australian Leadership Awards.

ALAF. [Formerly]. Australian Leadership Awards

Fellowship. (See AAF).

ALAS. Australian Leadership Award Scholarship.

ALC. Action with Lao Children. (NGO, Japan;

formerly ASPB).

Historical Note: Founded 1982 as ASPB, renamed

ALC 2005. (See also CCC).

ALM. Audio-Lingual Method [of second language

teaching].

ALMM. ASEAN Labor Ministers’ Meeting.

AM. Aide Memoire. (Also A-M).

AMD. Asset Management Division (DOF/MOES).

AMMS. ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Sports.

AMS. ASEAN Member State.

ANER. Adjusted Net Enrollment Rate. (Also

NERA).

ANFE. Adult non-formal education.

ANOBS. Alfred Nobel Open Business School

Limited (Hong Kong).

ANOVA. Analysis of Variance. (Statistical analysis

method).

ANPRO. Analysis and Projection. (UNESCO model

for education planning). (See also LANPRO).

AOG. Also AG. Assemblies of God. (NGO, USA).

AOP. Annual Operation Plan.

AOPB. Annual Operational Plan and Budget.

AOR. Annual Operation Review.

AOTA. Advisory and Operational Technical

Assistance (ADB; also see ADTA).

AP. 1. Action Plan. 2. Action Program. 3. Annual

Plan. 4. Authorization to Pay.

APA. Audited project account.

APARNET. Asia Pacific Academic Recognition

Network.

APEC. 1. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.

2. Asia Pacific Economic Conference.


4

APEFE. French: l’Association pour la promotion de

l’éducation et de la formation à l’étranger.

Association for Promoting Education and Training

Abroad. (Belgium).

APEID. Asia-Pacific Program of Educational

Innovation for Development. (UNESCO

Bangkok)

APEL. Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning.

(See also APL, definition 2; RPL).

APEN. Asia Professional Education Network.

APHEDA. Australian People’s Help in Education

and Development. Also known as Union Aid

Abroad-APHEDA. (NGO, Australia).

APL. 1. Adaptable Program Loan (WB).

2. Accreditation of Prior Learning. (See also

APEL, RPL).

APP. Annual procurement plan.

Apparent Intake Rate. (AIR). UIS Definition:

Total number of new entrants in the 1st grade of

primary education, regardless of age, expressed as

percentage of the population at the official primary

school-entrance age. Note that this definition

appeared in the 2003 technical guidelines for the

term “AIR” and in the 2009 guidelines for the term

“GIR”. (Compare with NIR).

APPEAL. Asia and Pacific Program of Education

for All. (UNESCO Bangkok).

Historical Note: Launched in 1987, aiming to

facilitate through regional co-operation in:

Achievement of universal primary education;

Eradication of illiteracy; and

Provision of continuing education.

(Compare with Colombo Plan, Jontien, Karachi

Plan).

APPREB. Asia-Pacific Cooperative Program in

Reading Promotion and Book Development.

APQN. Asia-Pacific Quality Network. (See also

AQAN).

APSC. ASEAN Political Security Community.

APT. ASEAN Plus Three. (ASEAN plus China,

Japan, and the Republic of Korea).

AQAN. ASEAN Quality Assurance Network. (See

also APQN).

AQRF. ASEAN Qualification Reference

Framework.

ARC. Asia Research Center (NUOL).

ARMI. Association for Rural Mobilization and

Improvement. (Lao NPA, definition 2).

ARNEC. Asia Pacific Regional Network for Early

Childhood (UNICEF, Bangkok).

ARO. Asia Regional Office.

ARQ. Above required qualification. (Compare with

BRQ, RQ).

ARR. Average Repetition Rate. Note: UIS does not

define this statistic. (See RR).

ARTC. APPEAL Resource and Training

Consortium. (UNESCO Bangkok).

ASA. Association of Southeast Asia. (Established in

1961 by the Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand).

ASAIHL. Association of Southeast Asian Institu-

tions of Higher Learning.

ASCC. ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community.

ASCF. Annual School Census Form.

ASCOE. ASEAN Sub-committee on Education.

(See also SEAMEO).

ASD. Autistic Spectrum Disorder.

ASEAN. Association of Southeast Asian Nations

(Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos,

Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore,

Thailand, Vietnam).

Note: These ten countries are referred to as “Core

ASEAN”. The secretariat is in Jakarta, Indonesia).

(See also AEC, APT, ASCC).

Historical Note: Formed in 1967 (as an outgrowth

of ASA) by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines,

Singapore, and Thailand. Laos obtained observer

status in 1992 and membership in 1997.

ASEAN plus 1. ASEAN plus China.

ASEAN plus 3. ASEAN plus China, Japan, Republic

of Korea. (Also APT).

ASEAN plus 6. ASEAN plus Australia, China,

India, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand.

(Also APT).

ASED. ASEAN Education Ministers’ Meeting.

(Compare with SOMED).

ASER. Age Specific Enrollment Rate.

ASLO. [National] Assessment of Student Learning

Outcomes. (Sometimes written incorrectly as

ALSO). (Based on the national student assessment

approach of IEA).

ASOER. ASEAN State of Education Report.

ASP. [Dated]. Association of Students’ Parents.

ASPB. Association for Sending Picture Books [to

Lao Children]. (NGO, Japan. Renamed ALC).

ASPBAE. Asia South Pacific Association of Basic

and Adult Education.

ASPnet. Associated Schools Project Network.

ASPR. 1. Annual Sector Performance Report.

2. Annual Sector Progress Report.


5

Assistant Minister. A senior official serving below

Vice Minister and above Director General. (See

Annex Figure 7. Not to be confused with Deputy

Minister).

ASV. American School of Vientiane. (Private).

AT. Academic teacher.

ATP. Attapeu Province.

ATS. Agriculture technical school.

AUD. Australian Dollar.

AUF. French: Agence Universitaire de la

Francophonie. Association of Universities of the

Francophonie. Author trans. (Montréal, Canada).

AUN. ASEAN University Network. (Established

1995; NUOL is a member).

AUN/SEED-Net. Southeast Asia Engineering

Education Development Network (an autonomous

sub-network of AUN).

AUN-QA. AUN Quality Assurance [initiative].

AusAID. [Formerly]. Australian Agency for Inter-

national Development. Integrated November

2013, into the Department of Foreign Affairs and

Trade (DFAT). (See Australian Aid).

Australian Aid. [Officially]. Department of Foreign

Affairs and Trade - Australian Aid. (Formerly

AusAID).

Australian Union Aid Abroad. See APHEDA.

Average Annual Growth Rate. Geometric growth

rate, commonly expressed as a percent. Calculated

as (EXP(LN(Y2/Y1)/N)-1)*100, where Y1 is the

value of a variable in the initial period, Y2 is the

value in the final period, and N is the number of

periods. (Contrast with YOY).

AVID. Australian Volunteers for International

Development. (Note: As an adjective, avid means

enthusiastic, eager).

AWP. Annual Work Plan.

AY. Academic Year. (Compare with CY, FY, SY).

AYAD. Australian Youth Ambassador Development

[program].

B

B.TVE. Bachelor degree in TVE.

Ba[A]. Bachelor [degree]. (See also B.TVE).

BAC. 1. Buddhist Aid Center. (NGO, Japan).

2. Baccalauréat. Le Bac.

Baccalauréat. [History]. Also Bac, definition 2.

French: Baccalaureate. School-leaving examina-

tion upon completion of Lycée that qualifies the

successful candidates for university entrance.

BAFIS. German: Beschäftigungsorientierte Aus- und

Fortbildung für Zielgruppen aus dem Informellen

Sektor. [Occupationally Oriented Basic and

Further Training for Target Groups from the

Informal Sector]. Author trans. (External financ-

ing by GTZ).

Ban. Village. (Compare with Khumban).

BarCamp. International network of participant-

generated conferences or open workshops, focused

primarily on technology and the Web. (See

EDUCAMP 2014).

BASE. Broadening Access to Sustainable Education.

Baseline Assessment. Assessment prior to an inter-

vention. (Compare with Midline Assessment,

Endline Assessment).

Basic education. 1. Pre-school, primary, lower

secondary education. 2. [Sub-sectors in EFA

context] Pre-school, primary, lower secondary, and

non-formal. The concept has varied over time.

(Compare with Non-basic education and PBE).

Historical Note: Until the publication in 2005 of

the EFA NPA, 2003-2015, “basic education” was

understood to include only pre-school and primary,

although inclusion of lower secondary as part of

basic education was foreshadowed the “Education

Strategic Planning” document of August 2001

(Part II, Sect. V, Para. 5). This was a reflection of

the outcomes of the 7th Party Congress in March

2001. With the Education Law of 2007, basic

education was formally extended to include lower

secondary education.

Basic education cycle school. School covering

Grades 1-9 by adding Grades 6-9 to a complete

and well-functioning primary school, including

those using multi-grade approaches, to expand

education access in remote areas.

Basic education school. See Basic education cycle

school.

Basic Education Teacher. [History]. Under the

USAID education program before the Revolution,

teacher sent to Community Rural Education

Centers, mainly to teach adults basic literacy,

numeracy, and other basic knowledge and skills.

(See CREC. See also USAID, Historical Note).

BBM. Big Brother Mouse. (Lao NPA, definition 2).

BC. Bidding Committee.

BCI. Behavioral Change Initiative.

BD. [History]. Budget Department.

BDEA. Buddha Dharma Education Association.

BDP. Buddhism for Development Project.

BE. Buddhist Era. Also B.E. (Note: The Lao

Buddhist Era and Common Era years differ by

543, with the Lao Buddhist New Year celebrated

on Common Era April 17).

BEd. Bachelor of Education [degree].


6

BEDA. Basic Education in Disadvantaged Areas

(DTT/MOES).

BEDP. Basic Education Development Project.

(Follow-up to BEGP) (External financing by

ADB).

BEGE. Basic Education and Gender Equality

[Program] (UNICEF).

BEGP. Basic Education (Girls) Project. (External

financing by ADB and AusAID; see LABEP).

BENC. Basic Education in the Northern Commun-

ities. (External financing by EU).

BEPC. [History]. French: Brevet d’études du

premier cycle [du 2ème degré]. General certificate

of secondary education [1st cycle]. (Lower

secondary, grades 6-8).

BEQUAL. Basic Education Quality and Access in

Lao PDR. (External financing by Australian Aid).

BESDP. Basic Education Sector Development

Program. (External financing by ADB).

BESDP II. Second Basic Education Sector

Development Program. (External financing by

ADB). (Renamed SESDP).

BFD. Buddhism for Development [Project].

BFP. Bridge Fund Program. (US Embassy).

BFSS. British and Foreign School Society.

BFW. Blessing Flower World. (NGO, Republic of

Korea).

BG. [Formerly] Block grant. (See also SBG); now

see REF).

BHC. Buddhist Health Center.

Bhikkhu/Bhikkhuni: Pali: In Theravada Buddhism, a

fully ordained monk/nun.

BIAAG. Because I am a Girl. (Social movement).

BKO. Bokeo Province.

BKX. Borikhamxay Province.

BLC. Basic Learning Competencies.

Blended learning. Formal education programs

involving both classroom activities and computer -

mediated activities. (Also “hybrid”, “technology-

mediated instruction”, “web-enhanced instruction”,

“mixed-mode instruction”, and others).

Bloom’s Taxonomy. Classification of learning

objectives into three domains:

Cognitive (Knowledge, Comprehension,

Application, Analysis, Evaluation, Synthesis);

Affective (Receiving, Responding, Valuing,

Organizing, Characterizing); and

Psychomotor (Perception, Set or disposition,

Guided response, Mechanism, Complex overt

response, Adaptation, Origination). (Continued)

Note: Named after B. S. Bloom. (Contrast with

SOLO).

BMZ. German: Bundesministerium für

wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung.

[Federal Ministry for Economic Development and

Cooperation]. (Germany).

BNl[L]. Basic Needs [Lao PDR]. NGO. (UK).

BODMAS. Brackets, Order, Divide, Multiply, Add,

and Subtract. (Order of mathematical operations;

taught in primary school).

BOL. Bank of Lao PDR.

BOLIGO. Borikhamxay Livelihood Improvement

and Governance Project. (Lux-Development)

Bonze. Buddhist monk. (In the context of Theravada

Buddhism of Laos, the term is archaic and

considered by some to be pejorative).

BOQ. Bill of quantities.

Boukthalu. Lao: Breakthrough [literally, as when a

tree falls and crashes through a roof]. (See Four

Breakthroughs; see also Sam sang).

BPE. [History]. Bureau of Private Education.

(MOE, renamed DPE, later DPEM. Now see

PEACO).

Bridging [Course / Curriculum / Program / Year].

1. (Higher Education). [History]. Instruction

intended to make up for formal or informal

deficiencies in requirements for an education or

training course or program, such as a program

intended for primary school graduates to enter a

teacher education program intended for lower

secondary school graduates. 2. (TVET). Course

or curriculum with transferable credit and

recognition of prior learning (RPL).

BRQ. Below required qualification. (Compare with

ARQ, RQ).

BTC. Belgian Technical Cooperation. (Also referred

to as “Belgian Development Cooperation” or the

“Belgian Development Agency”, as it is Belgium’s

official development cooperation agency).

BTOR. Back to Office Report.

BTTC. Bankeun Teacher Training College.

Buddhist Calendar. (Note: The Lao Buddhist

calendar and Common calendar differ by 543

years, with the Lao Buddhist New Year celebrated

on Common Era April 17. See BE).

BVEST. Basic Vocational Education and Skills

Training.

C

C. Certificate. (Compare with CV).


7

CA. 1. Coordinating Agency. 2. Communicative

Approach [to second language teaching].

CACIM. Committee for Approval of Curriculum

and Instructional Materials.

CAMS. Computerized Asset Management System.

CAP. 1. Country Action Plan. 2. [History].

Certificat d’Aptitude Professionnelle. [Certificate

of Professional Aptitude]. (Under the Education

Reform Act of 1962, the first regular two-year

cycle of technical and professional preparation in

Matanyom 3 and Matanyom 4). (Compare with

DEP).

CapEFA. Capacity Development for EFA.

CARE [International]. 1. Cooperative for

Assistance and Relief Everywhere. [Federation of

national CARE Members]. (INGO).

Historical Note: CARE worked in Laos in the

1950s initially under the name “Cooperative for

American Remittances to Everywhere”. In 1959

the meaning of the acronym was changed to “Co-

operative for American Relief Everywhere”.

Caritas. Confederation of Roman Catholic relief,

development, and social service organizations.

(INGO).

CAS. Country Assistance Strategy (WB).

CAW. Country Analytic Work.

CB. 1. Cost/benefit. (Compare with CE, definition

1). 2. Capacity Building.

CBA. Competency Based Assessment.

CBC. 1. Community-Based Contracting [for school

construction]. 2. Community Based Construction.

3. Competency Based Curriculum.

CBCOM. Community-based Contracting Operating

Manual. (Prepared for EDP II).

CBCP. Community-based civil works and procure-

ment.

CBE. Campus based education. (See also DE).

CBF. Children’s Book Festival. (Supported by

ALC).

CBI. Community–based initiative.

CBL. Competency based learning. (See also CBT).

CBM. Capacity Building and Management.

(Component in EDP II).

CBO. Community-based organization.

CBR. Community-based rehabilitation.

CBSRp[P]. Community Based School Readiness

[Program]. (Also SRP).

CBT. Competency based training. (See also CBL).

CCA. Common Country Assessment. (Conducted

by the UNCT).

CCC. Children’s Cultural Center.

Historical Note: First CCC founded in Vientiane in

1994, now with some 20 CCCs around the country.

Supported by ALC.

CCCD. Child-Centered Community Development.

CCDG. Community Child Development Group.

CCED. Community Committee for Education

Development.

CCL. French: Comité de Coopération avec le Laos.

Committee for Cooperation with Laos. Author

trans. (NGO, France).

CCOP. [Party] Central Committee of Organization

and Personnel.

CCPE. [History]. Consultant Council on Private

Education. (Advisory body to BPE).

CCR. Cohort Completion Rate.

CCT. 1. Conditional cash transfer. 2. Cross-cutting

Theme.

CCU. Committee for Cooperation with UNICEF.

CD. 1. Capacity development. 2. Coordinating

Department.

CDAP. Capacity Development Action Plan.

CDB. Capacity Development Baseline.

CDD. Community Driven Development.

CDEC. Continuing and Distance Education Center.

(NUOL).

CDF. 1. Comprehensive Development Framework

(WB). 2. Capacity Development Framework.

Note: The ESDP review and update, published by

MOES 18 December 2013, assigns priority to the

preparation of the Capacity Development

Framework during the period 2016-2020.

CDPM. Capacity Development Progress Map.

CDS. Capacity Development Strategy.

CDTC. Community Development Training Center.

CE. 1. Cost-effectiveness. (Compare with CB).

2. Continuing education. 3. Comparative educa-

tion. 4. Capacity enhancement (especially WB).

CEC. 1. Continuing Education Center. (FOE,

NUOL). 2. Children's Educational [Development]

Center.

CEDC. 1. Children in especially difficult

circumstances. 2. Community Education

Development Center.

Cedefop. French: Centre Européen pour le

Développement de la Formation Professionnelle.

European Center for the Development of

Vocational Training. (Thessaloniki, Greece).

CEDS. Center for Environment and Development

Studies. (NUOL).


8

CEFASE. French: Consolidation de l’enseignement

du français en Asie du Sud-Est. Consolidation of

the teaching of French in Southeast Asia. Author

trans.

CELC. Center for English Language Communica-

tion. (NUS).

Center. 1. MOES centers include:

Education Standards and Quality Assurance

Center (ESQAC);

Inclusive Education Center (IEC);

Strategic Research & Educational Analysis

Center (SREAC);

Information and Communication Technology

Center (ICTC); and

Education and Sports Research Center (ESRC).

2. Generic term covering specialized teaching and

research units. See also CSD, ELRC, ETC,

NFEDC, TVET Center, WEDC. (Compare with

College, Institute).

Central Region. Xiengkhuang, Xaysomboon

(formerly Xaysomboon SR), Vientiane Province,

Vientiane Capital, Borikhamxay, Khammuane,

Savannakhet. (See also Northern Region and

Southern Region).

CEPCi[I]. [History]. French: Certificat d’Études

Primaires Complémentaires [Indigène /

Indochinoises]. Completion certificate for primary

schooling, 2nd cycle, P4-P6.

Historical Note: Initially the term Indigène

(indigenous) was used, but after the French

withdrew, that term was seen as pejorative and was

replaced by Indochinoises.

CEPEi[I]. Certificat d’Études Primaires

Élémentaires [Indigène / Indochinoises]).

(Completion certificate for primary schooling, 1st

cycle, P1-P3). (See Note to CEPC).

CEQA. Center for Educational Quality Assurance.

(See Note to ESQAC). (MOES, see Annex Figure

7).

CERD. [International] Convention on the Elimina-

tion of all Forms of Racial Discrimination.

Certified teacher. Teacher having a certificate of

completion of teacher training from a TEI. (See

Uncertified teacher, Qualified teacher; see also

Figure 5).

CES. [History]. Capital Education Service. (I.e.

Education Service in Vientiane Capital. Compare

with PES. See also VCESS).

Cesvi. Italian: Cooperazione e Sviluppo. [Co-

operation and Development]. (NGO, Italy).

CEWED. [Formerly]. Center for Promotion of

Education for Women, Ethnic, and People with

Disabilities. (See IEC).

CF. 1. Counterpart fund. 2. Catalytic Fund. (Multi-

donor trust fund managed by the World Bank. See

also CFC; ECF; FTI).

CFAE. French: Centre de Formation des

Administrateurs de l’Education. See IEMD.

CFC. Catalytic Fund Committee.

CFL. ChildFund Laos. (NGO, Australia).

CFLE. Child Friendly Learning Environment.

(UNICEF).

CFS. Child-Friendly School. (See SOQ).

CFT. Competency Framework for Teachers.

CG. Community Grant. (EDP II).

CGECR. Committee for General Education

Curriculum Reform.

CHAFC. Champasak Agriculture and Forestry

College.

Chao Khoueng. Lao: [Provincial] Governor.

Chao Muang. Lao: [District] Governor, Mayor.

CHF. Swiss Franc.

CHOICE. Cambridge Hong Kong-Operation for

International Children’s Education. (NGO, Hong

Kong).

CIC. Committee for Investment and Cooperation.

(PMO).

CIDA. Canadian International Development Agency.

CIDSE. French: Coopération Internationale pour le

Développement et la Solidarité. International

Cooperation for Development and Solidarity.

Author trans. (NGO, Belgium).

CIED. Community Initiative for Education

Development. (External financing by JICA).

Civil society. Non-governmental organizations

(NGOs), community organizations, professional

associations, NPA, definition 2. (Compare with

Mass organization).

CLC. Community Learning Center (under the

PESS).

CLE. Concentrated Language Encounter.

CLI. Community Learning International. (NGO,

USA).

CLMV. Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam.

CLT. Communicative Language Teaching [approach

to second language teaching].

CLTS. Community-Led Total Sanitation. (PI).

Cluster. See School cluster.

CMDT. Curriculum [and] Materials Development

Team.

CMIS. 1. Contract Management Information

System. 2. Construction Management Information


9

System. (Compare with EMIS, FMIS, GIS,

PMIS).

CMS. Course Management System. (See also LMS,

VLE)

CN. Concept Note.

CNC. See CNTC.

CNTC. Charter of National Teacher Competencies.

(See also CNC; NTC).

CO. Country Office. (E.g. of a DP).

COA. Chart of Accounts.

COBIAC. Collectif de Bibliothécaires et Inter-

venants en Action Culturelle. International

Collaboration for Promotion of Reading and

Libraries. (NGO, France).

COBP. Country Operations Business Plan. (ADB).

COE. Center of Excellence.

Cognitive mobility. 1. (Concerning employment).

Transition from one field of specialization to

another, especially concerning labor mobility

between fields. 2. (Concerning child development)

Movement or “mobility” in thinking and reason-

ing, linking mental image to mental image, concept

to concept, idea to idea.

Cohort Completion Rate. (CCR). UIS Definition:

Percentage of a cohort of pupils enrolled in the 1st

grade of primary education in a given school year

who are expected to complete this level of

education. The CCR is the product of the

probability of reaching the last grade and the

probability of graduating from the last grade.

(Compare with Survival Rate; Gross Graduation

Ratio).

Collège. [History]. French: In the French language

terminology of the colonial and post-colonial

periods, lower secondary level institution offering

1 or 2 year programs following a six-year primary

school. (See also Lycée. Not to be confused with

the English College).

College. Post-secondary institutions offering non-

degree programs, usually private, fee-paying, and

market-driven. (Not to be confused with the

French Collège. Compare with Institute.)

Colombo Plan [for Cooperative Economic and

Social Development in Asia and the Pacific]. A

framework for bi-lateral arrangements involving

foreign aid and technical assistance for the

economic and social development. It provides

scholarships and third-country support for training.

(Also see NCP).

Historical Note: Established in 1950 at a Common-

wealth Conference of Foreign Ministers, held in

Colombo, Sri Lanka. Laos joined in 1951. (See

CPSC).

Commune. [Formerly]. Administrative unit below

District and above Village. (Abolished in 2000.)

See Sub-district.

Community teacher. Teacher (regardless of qualifi-

cations) employed by the community, whose

remuneration is based on negotiation with the

school or community leaders, often involving non-

monetary benefits. Also referred to as Village

teacher or Volunteer teacher. (See also Contract

Teacher; Quota teacher; Volunteer Teacher).

Competency based training. [According to TVET

Law, December 2013] Learning based on specific

curriculum with testing against competency

standards determined in real-world production

units.

Complete school. 1. Primary school in which

instruction in all five grades is offered. (Compare

with Incomplete school, Multi-grade school,

Shifting classes. See also School cluster).

2. Secondary school combining lower and upper

secondary levels. (See Annex Figure 2).

Completion Rate. Note: UIS does not define a

“Completion Rate” because the term is ambiguous.

When “Completion Rate” is written, either Cohort

Completion Rate (CCR), Gross Graduation Ratio,

or Survival Rate (SR) is usually meant.

Compulsory schooling.

Historical Note: In 1951, under the RLG, a law

was passed instituting compulsory, free, three-year

primary education all children residing within a

radius of one kilometer from a public school. In

1952 a complementary law was passed requiring

the establishment of a primary school (provided

sufficient funds were available) in any community

with a sufficient number of children. In March

1991 the 5th Party Congress established the policy

of enforcement of free and compulsory education.

In August 1996 the Compulsory Education Decree

provided for free and compulsory primary

education.

Comstrat. Communication Strategy. (Reference to

“Communication Strategy (2013-2020) to support

the Education Reform Agenda”).

Concern [Worldwide Lao PDR]. (NGO, Ireland).

CONFEMEN. French: Conférence des Ministres de

l’Éducation des pays ayant le français en partage.

Conference of Ministers of Education of Countries

Sharing the Use of French.

CONFRASIE. French: La Conférence régionale des

Recteurs des universités membres de l’Agence

universitaire de la Francophonie en Asie-


10

Pacifique. Regional Conference of Rectors of

Members of the Association of Universities of the

Francophonie of Asia and the Pacific. Author

trans. (See also AUF).

Consortium. (NGO, Laos). See WE / Consortium.

Constitution. The first constitution of the Lao PDR

was promulgated in August 1991. An amended

constitution was promulgated in May 2003.

Revisions to the constitution are currently (late

2014) under discussion in the NA.

Continuing Curriculum. See also Continuous

Curriculum; Transition Curriculum.

Continuous Curriculum. Curriculum that facilitates

continuation or upgrading of qualification in a

particular trade area.

Continuous Education. (TVET). Education and

training for upgrading level of qualification or

increasing knowledge and skills within any subject

or for any occupation. See also Continuous

Curriculum; Transition Curriculum.

Contract teacher. Teacher (regardless of qualifica-

tions) employed on the basis of a contract,

typically of one year duration, whose salary is

governed by recommendations from the Ministry

of Education and Sports but agreed by the

contracting parties (e.g., the teacher and the

village). (See also Community Teacher; Quota

teacher; Village teacher; Volunteer teacher).

Note: The concept of contract teacher should be

distinguished from the concept of Under-qualified

or Unqualified teachers, since there exist contract

teachers who are fully Qualified.

COPE. Cooperative Orthotic and Prosthetic

Enterprise.

CORC. Convention on the Rights of the Child.

(UN; also CRC).

Cord. Also CORD. Christian Outreach for Relief

and Development. (INGO, UK).

Core ASEAN. See ASEAN, Note.

Core school. A primary complete school serving as a

pedagogical support center in a school cluster and

providing the upper grades for students in the

feeder incomplete schools. (See Annex Figure 4).

(Compare with Satellite school. See also Groupe

scolaire).

COSO. Central Operations Service Office (ADB).

CP. Child Protection.

CPA. Country Performance Assessment. (ADB).

CPAC. Child Policy, Advocacy, and

Communication [Program]. (UNICEF priority

program).

CPAR. Country Procurement Assessment and

Review. (WB).

CPC. 1. [Formerly] Committee for Planning and

Cooperation. (Changed to CPI in 2004; formerly

State Planning Committee, SPC). 2. Central

Planning Committee. 3. Country Program

Coordinator.

CPD. Continuing Professional Development.

CPF. French: Centre Provincial Francophone.

Provincial Francophone Center. (Plural: Centres

Provinciaux Francophones).

CPI. 1. Clear Path International. (NGO, USA).

2. Consumer Price Index. 3. [Formerly]. Com-

mittee for Planning and Investment (MOFA).

(Replaced CPC, under PMO; replaced SPC. Now

see MPI).

CPIA. Country Policy and Institutional Assessment.

(IDA).

CPM. Critical Path Method.

CPN. Child Protection Network.

CPO. Country Program Outline. (PI).

CPPR. Country Portfolio Performance Review.

(WB).

CPRA. Country Procurement Risk Assessment.

(WB).

CPRM. Country Portfolio Review Mission. (ADB).

CPS. 1. Champasak Province. 2. Country

Partnership Strategy. (ADB, formerly CSP; WB).

CPSC. Colombo Plan Staff College [for Technician

Education]. (Manila).

CPSPR. Country Partnership Strategy Progress

Report. (WB).

CQA. [Formerly]. Center for Quality Assurance.

(See ESQAC).

CQAF. Common Quality Assurance Framework.

CQO. Chief Quality Officer. (NUOL).

CQS. Consultant Qualification Selection. (Selection

based on consultant’s qualifications). (ADB, WB).

CR. Classroom.

CRC. 1. Convention on the Rights of the Child.

(UN; also CORC). 2. Camera-ready copy.

3. Citizen Report Card. 4. Community Report

Card.

CREC. [History]. French: Centre Rural d’Éducation

Communautaire. Rural Community Education

Center. Author trans. (Later referred to by

USAID as Community Rural Education Center”).

Crèche. French: Day nursery, nominally for children

aged 3 months to 3 years. (See ECCD,

Kindergarten, Pre-school; see Annex Figure 3).

CRG. Child Rights Governance.

CRIN. Child Rights Information Network.


11

CRPD. Convention on the Rights of Persons with

Disabilities.

CRPF. Compensation and Resettlement Policy

Framework.

CRS. Catholic Relief Services. (NGO, inter-

national).

CRSA. Child Rights Situation Analysis.

CRWRC. [Formerly]. Christian Reformed World

Relief Committee. (INGO. Now see WR).

CS. Competency Standard.

CSA. 1. Civil Society Association. 2. Center for

Study Abroad (Japanese educational exchange

organization). 3. Commission for Solidarity with

the Asian Underprivileged. (NGO, Japan).

CSD. Center for Skill Development. (Vientiane).

CSN. Children with special needs.

CSO. Civil society organization. (See also NPA,

definition 2).

CSP. 1. Country Strategic Plan. 2. [Formerly].

Country Strategy and Program (ADB, now CPS).

CSPU. Country Strategy and Program Update.

(ADB).

CSR. Corporate Social Responsibility.

CSS. Competency Standard Setting.

CTPC. See MCTPC.

CU. Champasak University. (Established 2002.

Sometimes referred to as Pakse University, with

reference to the town in which it is located in

Champasak Province. See Annex Table 2.)

CU5. Children under five years of age.

CUSO. Canadian [University] Services Overseas.

(NGO, Canada).

CV. “Certificate Vocational”. (See 9+3; CAP,

definition 2; VC I to VC III).

CW. Concern Worldwide. (NGO, Ireland).

CWD. Children with Disabilities. (See also PWD).

CWS. Church World Service. (NGO, United States).

(Not to be confused with Christian World Service,

a New Zealand NGO which does not operate in

Laos).

CY. Calendar year. (Compare with AY, FY, SY).

D

D&D. Decentralization and de-concentration. (Also

D and D).

D. Diploma. (Compare with C, HD).

D.TVE. Diploma in TVE.

DA. Designated Account. (WB). (See also OA).

DAA. Dhamma Aid Asia. Buddhist INGO.

DAAD. German: Deutscher Akademischer Austausch

Dienst. [German Academic Exchange Service].

DAC. Development Assistance Committee. (OECD;

comprises 22 donor countries and the European

Commission).

DACUM. Developing a Curriculum. (Methodo-

logical approach to development of TVET

curricula).

DAPE. Department of Arts and Physical Education.

(MOES, See Annex Figure 7).

Note: The mandate of DAPE covers schools

specifically; compare with DCS.

DBEL. Delivering Better Education in Laos (2007-

2013). (AusAID).

DBEP. District Basic Education Plan.

DC. 1. Dubai Cares. (Philanthropic organization,

Dubai, United Arab Republic). 2. Direct

Contracting.

DCE. District Construction Engineer. (EQIP II).

DCS. 1. Department of Community Sports. (MOES.

See Annex Figure 7). (Note: The mandate of DCS

covers community sports nationwide; compare

with DAPE). 2. Development Cooperation

Strategy.

DCT. Dual cooperative training. Compare with

SBT.

DCU. Drug Control Unit. (MOES).

DCYDA. Dongsavath Children And Youth

Development Association. (Lao NPA, definition

2).

DCYDC. Dongsavat Children and Youth

Development Center. (See DCYDA).

DD. Dong Dok. (Reference to the main campus of

NUOL).

DDA. 1. Demand Driven Approach. (Project with

external financing by Sida). 2. Demand-driven

approach. (Generic concept. Compare with

HRBA, RBA).

DDAII. Phase II of DDA.

DDG. Deputy DG.

DE. 1. Distance education. (See also CBE).

2. District Engineer.

DEAM. Department of Education Administration

and Management. (NUOL/FOE). (Formerly

TEADC; TDC).

DEB. 1. [History]. District Education Bureau.

(Renamed DESB in 2010). 2. District Education

Board.

DEB/PA. District Education Bureau / Pedagogical

Advisor.

DEB-C. District Education Bureau - Culture.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philanthropic


12

DEB-E. District Education Bureau - Education.

Decentralization [of the Education Sector]. Based

on MOE Decree No. 1500/DOP.02, March 3,

2002. Decree on Implementing the Decentraliza-

tion in the Education Sector:

Relating to the build-up (see also Three Builds)

of:

o Province as a Strategic Unit;

o District as a Planning Unit; and

o Village as an Implementation Unit.

Assigning responsibilities for each level:

o DEB is responsible for pre-school and

primary;

o PES is responsible for lower secondary and

upper secondary; and

o MOE is responsible for NUOL, colleges,

technical and vocational schools, and ethnic

boarding schools.

DED. German: Deutscher Entwicklungsdienst

[German Development Service].

DEDC. District Education Development Committee.

(Compare with EDC, VDC, VEDC definition 2,

WEDC).

DEI. Department of Education Inspection. (See

DOI).

DEM. Decentralized education management.

DEO. [History]. District Education Officer.

DEP. [History]. French: Diplôme de l’Enseignement

Professionnel.

Deputy Minister. Vice Minister. (Compare with

Assistant Minister).

DER. Department of External Relations. (MOES,

See Annex Figure 7).

DES. Department of Elite Sports. (MOES. See

Annex Figure 7)

DESB. District Education and Sports Bureau.

(Formerly DEB). (See Annex Table 1).

DESD. 1. [UN] Decade of Education for Sustainable

Development. 2. [History]. District Education and

Sports Division. (See DESB).

DESIT. Department of Education Statistics and

Information Technology. (Renamed, see ESITC).

DEVAW. Declaration on the Elimination of the

Violence against Women.

DFA. Development Financing Agreement. (WB).

DFAT. [Australian] Department of Foreign Affairs

and Trade, into which AusAID was integrated

November 1, 2013. (See Australian Aid).

DFG. German: Deutsche Finanzierungsgesellschaft

für Beteiligungen in Entwicklungsländern, GmbH

[German Finance Company for Investments in

Developing Countries]. (See also GIZ).

DG. Director General.

DGE. [Formerly]. Department of General Educa-

tion. (MOES). (Divided into two departments in

2008; see DPE and DSE).

DGEI. Department of General Education Inspection.

Replaced by DEI in 2008.

DGIS. Dutch: Directoraat-Generaal Internationale

Samenwerking [Directorate-General for Inter-

national Cooperation]. (Netherlands).

DGP. Department of General Planning. (In CPI).

Dhamma. Lao: Doctrine, teachings of the Buddha.

DHE. Department of Higher Education. (MOES, see

Annex Figure 7. For historical note see DHTVE.)

DHS. Demographic and Health Survey. (See also

MICS, LSIS).

DHTVE. [Formerly]. Department of Higher,

Technical, and Vocational Education. (Also

HTVED).

Historical Note: Re-organized in 2008 into

separate departments, DHE and DTVE.

DIC. 1. Deseret International Charities. (NGO,

USA, Associated with the Mormon Church;

specializing in teaching of English). 2. Depart-

ment of International Cooperation (MOPI).

3. Drop-in Center.

DIH. Department of Industry and Handicraft. (In

MOIC, definition 1).

Diplôme de l’Enseignement Professionnel.

[History]. French: Diploma of Vocational

Education.

Historical Note: Under the Education Reform of

1962, a preparatory two-year cycle of technical

and professional preparation in Matanyom 1 and

Matanyom 2. (Compare with CAP, definition 2).

Director General. Senior official serving directly

under a Vice Minister or Assistant Minister and

responsible for a Department or unit of equivalent

status.

DIT. 1. District Implementation Team. (Compare

with NIT, PIT definition 1). 2. District Inclusive

Education Trainer. (Compare with PIT, definition

2).

DLAE. [History]. Department of Literacy and Adult

Education.

DLHRD. Division of Legislation and Human

Resource Development. (In DOP).

DLLM. Digital Library of Lao Manuscripts.

DMC. Developing Member Country. (WB, ADB).


13

DMF. Design and Monitoring Framework.

DNE. Department of Non-Formal Education. (Also

DNFE and NFED). (See Annex Figure 7).

DNFE. Department of Non-Formal Education.

(Also DNE and NFED). (See Annex Figure 7).

DNPD. Deputy National Project Director.

DOACS. Department of Administration and Civil

Service. (PMO).

DOEI. Department of Education Inspection. (See

DOI).

DOF. Department of Finance. (MOES. See Annex

Figure 7).

DOI. 1. Department of Inspection. (See Annex

Figure 7). (See also DEI. 2. Digital Opportunity

Index).

Dong Dok. Main campus of NUOL, approximately

10 km north of Vientiane.

DOP. Department of Personnel and Organization

(MOES. See Annex Figure 7).

DOPC. See DPC.

DOR. Dropout Rate. See DR.

DOS. [Formerly]. [National] Department of

Statistics. (Previously NSC, definition 2). (Under

the MPI). (Now see LSB).

DP. 1. Development Partner. (See also IDP).

2. Direct purchase. (Compare with ICB, IS, LCB).

3. Department of Planning. (MOES). (Formerly

DPC; DPF).

DPACS. [Formerly]. Department of Public Admin-

istration and Civil Service. (PMO). (See

PACSA).

DPAE. Department of Physical and Arts Education.

(See DAPE).

DPB. [History]. Domestic Public Bidding.

DPC. [Formerly]. Department of Planning and

[International] Cooperation. Also DPIC. (MOES;

replaced PSU. Now renamed DP, definition 3).

(See Annex Figure 7).

DPE. 1. Department of Primary and Pre-school

Education. (See DPPE) 2. [Formerly]. Depart-

ment of Physical Education. (See DAPE).

3. [Formerly]. Department of Private Education

(See PEACO).

DPEA. Department of Physical Education and Art.

(See DAPE).

DPEM. [History]. Department of Private Education

Management. (Also DPrE. Now see PEACO).

DPF. [Formerly]. Department of Planning and

Finance. (Separated over several reorganizations

into DP definition 3, and DOF).

DPhAE. Department of Physical and Art Education.

(See DAPE)

DPhE. Department of Physical Education. (See

DAPE)

DPIC. [Formerly]. Department of Planning and

International Cooperation. (MOE). (See DPC).

DPIP. [History]. Department of Public Investment

Program.

DPIU. District Project Implementation Unit.

DPL. Development Policy Letter. (ADB, see also

PL).

DPM. Deputy Prime Minister.

DPPE. Department of Primary and Pre-school

Education. (MOES, established 2008). (See

Annex Figure 7).

DPrE. [Formerly]. Department of Private Education

(MOE). (See also DPrE; DPEM; DPE). See

PEACO.

DPRK. Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

(North Korea. Compare with ROK).

DPrv.E. See DPrE.

DPS. Department of Public Services. [In PMO

which sets quotas each year for the number of new

permanent recruitments and government funded

contracts]. (See PACSA; Quota teacher).

DQAF. Data Quality Assessment Framework [for

the EMIS].

DR. Dropout Rate.

DRC. Danish Red Cross.

DRM. Disaster Risk Management.

Dropout. UIS Definition: Student who leaves

school definitively in a given school year.

Dropout Rate. UIS Definition: Proportion of

students from a cohort enrolled in a given grade at

a given school year who are no longer enrolled in

the following school year. (See Dropout).

DRR. Disaster Risk Reduction.

DRS. 1. Data Recording System. 2. Data-base

Reporting System.

DRT. District Resource Team.

DSA. 1. Daily subsistence allowance. 2. Department

of Student Affairs. (MOES, see Annex Figure 7).

(Also DStA).

DSD. Department of Skills Development. (See

DSDE.

DSDE. Department of Skills Development and

Employment. (MOLSW).


14

DSE. Department of Secondary Education. (MOES,

see Annex Figure 7).

DSED. See DSDE.

DSpA. Department of Sports for All. (MOES, see

Annex Figure 7)

DStA. Department of Student Affairs. (MOES, see

Annex Figure 7)

DTE. Department of Teacher Education. (MOES,

See Annex Figure 7). (Formerly DTT).

DTL. Deputy Team Leader.

DTP. Desktop publishing.

DTT. [History]. Department of Teacher Training.

(Renamed DTE. See Annex Figure 7).

DTVE. Department of Technical and Vocational

Education. (MOES, see Annex Figure 7).

DTVET. See DTVE.

Dual cooperative training. (TVET). Training in

cooperation with enterprises with the emphasis on

practical part of training, with the theoretical part

of the training taking place at TVET institutions

and practical training in the enterprise, based on

regulations, condition, and contract between the

parties (institution and enterprise or institution,

enterprise, and apprentice). (Compare with

School-based training).

DUCDA. District Unit for Construction and

Development Assistance. (See also PUCDA).

DVT. Dual vocational training.

DVTE. See DTVE.

DVTHE. [History]. Department of Vocational,

Technical, and Higher Education. (Separated into

two departments in 2008, DHE and DTVE.

MOES. See Annex Figure 7).

DVV [International]. German: [Institut für Inter-

nationale Zusammenarbeit des] Deutschen Volks-

hochschul-Verbandes [Institute for International

Cooperation of the German Adult Education

Association]. Sometimes referred to as the

German Folk High School Association, which

corresponds closely to a direct translation and the

German folk high school tradition.

DWHH. German: Deutsche Welthungerhilfe

[German Agro Action, see GAA]. (NGO,

Germany).

E

€. See EUR.

EA&P. East Asia and the Pacific.

EA. Executing Agency.

EAB. Education[al] Advisory Board. Note: There

are EABs at central, provincial, district, and

institutional levels.

EADI. Education Administration Development

Institute. (See IEMD).

EAM p[P]. Education Administration and Manage-

ment [Program]. (At FOE/NUOL).

EAP. English for Academic Purposes.

EAPRO. East Asia and the Pacific Regional Office

(UNICEF, Bangkok).

EBS. Ethnic Boarding School.

EC. 1. European Commission. 2. [Formerly]

European Community. (See EU, Historical Note).

3. External Communication.

ECCD. Early Childhood Care and Development. In

Laos, refers to pre-school services for children

aged 3 - 5 years, sometimes from 3 months,

including both Crèche and Kindergarten (See also

ECCE; ECED; IECD; Pre-school).

ECCE. Early Childhood Care and Education.

Note: In Laos the term used in reference to EFA is

ECCD.

ECD. 1. Early Childhood Development. (See also

ECCD; ECCE; ECED; IECD; Pre-school). 2. See

ECDM. 3. EC Delegation.

ECDF. Education Capacity Development Frame-

work. See also CDF Note, ESCDF.

ECDL. EC Delegation Laos.

ECDM. Education Construction and Design Man-

agement Division. (MOES, previously ECS and

ECD).

ECE. Early Childhood Education. (See also ECCD;

ECCE; ECED; IECD; Pre-school).

ECED. Early Childhood Education and Develop-

ment. (See also ECCD, ECCE, ECE, IECD,

Kindergarten, Pre-school).

ECEP. Early Childhood Education Project (2014-

2019). (External financing by WB).

ECERS. Early Childhood Environment Rating

Scale. (Unicef).

ECF. Expanded Catalytic Fund. (See CF).

École cantonale. [History]. French: Primary school

in a town. (Compare with École d’arrondisse-

ment).

École d’arrondissement. [History]. French: Primary

school in a rural district. (Compare with École

cantonale).

École élémentaire. [History]. French: Elementary

school, Primary school. (Note that current use of


15

this term in names of public institutions can still be

found in some parts of Laos).

École maternelle. [History]. French: Kindergarten,

pre-school. (Note that current use of this term in

names of public institutions can still be found in

some areas).

École Normale d’Instituteurs. [History]. French:

Teacher Training School [for primary school

teachers].

École normale de bonzes. [History]. French:

Teacher training school for monks.

Historical Note: Established 1909 in Vientiane;

later in Luang Prabang.

École Normale Supérieure. [History]. French:

Teacher Training College [for lower secondary

school teachers]. Established 1959.

École primaire. [History]. French: Primary school.

(Note that this term is in current usage in names of

institutions in some areas).

École Royale de Médecine [du Laos]. [History].

French: Royal School of Medicine.

École secondaire, le deuxième cycle. [History].

French: Upper secondary school. (Also École

secondaire, 2ème cycle). (Note that this term is

still in current usage in names of institutions in

some areas).

École secondaire, le premier cycle. [History].

French: Lower secondary school. (Also École

secondaire, 1er cycle). (Note that this term is in

current usage in names of institutions in some parts

of Laos).

École secondaire. [History]. French: Secondary

school. (Note that this term is in current usage in

names of institutions in some parts of Laos).

École Supérieure de Pédagogie. [History]. French:

Teacher Training College [for upper secondary

school teachers]. College of Education. Located

at Dong Dok.

ECOP. Environmental Code of Practice. (For

construction of school buildings).

ECOSOC. [United Nations] Economic and social

Council.

ECS. See ECDM.

ECU. 1. Education Coordination Unit. 2. ESDF

Coordination Unit. 3. ESDP Coordination Unit.

ED. 1. Education Disadvantage. 2. Educationally

disadvantaged. 3. Executive Director.

EDC. Education Development Committee. (See also

VDC; VEDC definition 2, and WEDC).

EDEMV. Education Development for Ethnic

Minority Villages.

EDF. Education for Development Fund. (Formerly

Minsai). (NGO, Japan).

EDG. Education Development Grant.

EDGP. Education Development Grant Program.

(Under BESDP). (See also SAGP).

EDI. EFA Development Index. (UNESCO).

EDP. 1. Education Development Project (external

financing by the World Bank), later referred to as

EDP I. 2. [History]. Education Development

Project financed by USAID.

EDP I. Education Development Project. (Originally

referred to as EDP). (External financing by WB).

EDP II, EDP2, EDP2. Second Education Develop-

ment Project. (Sometimes referred to as SEDP).

(External financing by WB).

EDUCAMP 2014. A “BarCamp” on educational

innovations. (NUOL, March 2014).

Éducateur de bas. [History]. See Basic Education

Teacher.

Education Law. Note: The current education law is

also referred to as the “Revised Education Law”,

the Education Law of 2007 (as it was adopted by

the National Assembly 3 July 2007), or the

Education Law of 2008 (as it was published by

MOE in March 2008). (Note that the Education

Law is scheduled for revision in 2015).

Historical Note: The term “education law”

sometimes also refers to:

The Education Law of 2000, Approved by the

National Assembly April 8, 2000;

The Compulsory Education Decree of the Prime

Minister, August 15, 1996; or

The Education Reform of 1962. (Note: Often

referred to in later years as the “The Education

Reform Act”, it was not an act of parliament but

rather a Royal Decree.)

EDV. Education Department of Vientiane [Capital

City].

EDWG. Education [and Gender] Donors Working

Group. (Replaced by EGSWG. See ESWG and

IEDWG).

EE. Environmental Education.

EEA. Environmental Education and Awareness.

EECS. Environmental Education and

Communication Strategy.

EEF. European Education Fund. (NGO).

EEFA. Equal Education For All. (Lao NPA,

definition 2).

EEG. Education Evaluation Group. (Activity in

ASLO component of EDP II).

EEME. Empowerment of Ethnic Minorities through

Education.


16

EEPA. Employability and Entrepreneurship

Potential Assessment.

EFA. Education for All. (See Jomtien, UBE; UPC;

UPE, EFA-NPA).

EFA-FTI. [Formerly]. EFA Fast Track Initiative.

(Launched 2002; renamed GPE September 2011.

See also FTI).

EFAMOD. EFA Model, an education sector

strategic development spreadsheet model to

support EFA. (UNESCO).

EFA-NPA. Education for All National Plan of

Action 2003-2015 (MOE, March 2005). (See

EFA). (Sometimes incorrectly referred to as the

EFA National Action Plan or the National EFA

Action Plan).

Note: The publication date of the Education for All

National Plan of Action 2003-2015 is cited in the

literature variously as 2003, 2004, and 2005.

Although the period covered is from 2003-2015, it

was approved by the Government Cabinet

December 30, 2004, and published 2005 “for the

Ministry of Education by the UNESCO Asia and

Pacific Regional Bureau for Education”. (See

Annex Table 4).

EFEO [Vientiane]. French: École Française

d’Extrême-Orient French School of East Asian

Studies, [Vientiane branch].

Effective Transition Rate. (ETranR). UIS

Definition: The number of new entrants into the

1st grade of a higher level of education in Year

Y+1, expressed as a percentage of the number of

students enrolled in the final grade of the lower

level of education in Year Y who did not repeat

that grade in Year Y+1. (Compare with Transition

Rate. Compare also with PR, SR definition 1).

Note: Compared with the Transition Rate, this

indicator better reflects the real transition rate,

regardless of repetition, where students repeat the

last grade of the lower level but eventually make

the transition to the higher level.

EFIS. Education Finance Information System. (See

also FMIS. Compare with EMIS).

EFL. English as a Foreign Language. (See also

ESL; TOEFL).

EfS. Education for Sustainability.

EGDP. 1. Ethnic Group Development Plan. (See

also EGP). 2. Ethnic Group Development Project.

EGMA. Early Grade Mathematics Assessment.

(Compare with EGRA).

EGP. Ethnic Group Plan. (See also EGDP).

EGPF. Ethnic Group Policy Framework. (PRF).

EGRA. Early Grade Reading Assessment.

(Compare with EGMA).

EGSWG. Education and Gender Sector Working

Group. (MOES) (Usually referred to as ESWG).

EGWG. Education and Gender Working Group

(MOES). (Replaced by EGSWG).

EIA. Environmental Impact Assessment.

EIC. [Formerly]. Education Inspection Committee.

(MOES). (See DOI).

Eight Priorities. Core components of the 4th NSEDP

(4th Five Year Plan, 1996-2000):

Food production;

Goods production;

Discontinuation of slash and burn cultivation;

Rural development;

Infrastructure development;

Development of relationships and cooperation

with foreign partners;

Development of human resources;

Development of services.

EIRR. Economic Internal Rate of Return.

EL. Education Law.

ELDS. Early Learning and Development Standards.

(UNICEF).

Elementary school. [History]. Primary school.

Under the RLG, primary schooling comprised two

cycles. The 1st cycle, “lower elementary” covered

Grades 1-3. The 2nd cycle, “upper elementary”

covered Grades 4-6. In some texts the term

“primary” is used to refer to the 1st cycle, and

“elementary” is used to refer to the 2nd cycle. In

some texts the term refers to Grades 1-6. (See

3+3; Lower Primary; Upper Primary).

Élève. [History]. French: Student.

ELIc[C]. English Language Institute [in China].

Active in Laos since 1996.

ELO. Expanded Learning Opportunities.

ELP. English Language Proficiency.

ELPS. Early Learning in Primary School. (Sup-

ported by SC-UK and SCN).

ELRC. English Language Resource Center. (Under

DTE).

EMBS. Ethnic Minority Boarding School.

EMDP. Ethnic Minority Development Plan. (See

EGDP).

EMIS. Educational Management Information

System. (Compare with CMIS, FMIS, GIS, TMIS,

TEMIS, PMIS).


17

E-MTEF. Education sector MTEF. (See also

ESMTEF; MTEF).

Endline Assessment. Assessment at the completion

of an intervention. (Compare with Baseline

Assessment, Midline Assessment).

ENI. [History]. French: École Normale d’Institut-

eurs. Teacher Training School for primary school

teachers.

ENQA. European Association for Quality Assurance

in Higher Education.

Historical Note: Originally European Network for

Quality Assurance in Higher Education. Renamed

to European Association for Quality Assurance in

Higher Education, but the acronym was retained.

ENS. [History]. French: École Normale Supérieure.

Teacher Training College for secondary school

teachers. (See also ESP, definition 3).

ENV. [History]. French: École Normale de

Vientiane. Teacher Training School in Vientiane.

EOJ. Embassy of Japan.

EP. Equivalency Program.

EPDF. Education Program Development Fund.

(WB, FTI).

EPDFSC. Education Program Development Fund

Strategy Committee. (WB, FTI).

EPE. Education Publishing Enterprise. Also known

as Education Printing Enterprise.

EPR. Education Policy and Reform [Unit].

(UNESCO Bangkok).

EQA. External Quality Assurance. (For external

comparison, e.g, accreditation). (Compare with

IQA).

EQAC. [Formerly]. Education Quality Assurance

Center. (MOES. See ESQAC).

EQASP. Education Quality Assurance Strategic Plan

[for 2011 to 2020].

EQF. European Qualifications Framework.

EQIP. Education Quality Improvement Project.

(ADB, 1992-1998, also referred to as EQIP I).

EQIP II. Second Education Quality Improvement

Project. (External financing by ADB and Sida; see

also TTEST).

EQR. External Quality Review.

EQS. Education Quality Standards.

ER. Enrollment Rate. See NER, GER.

ERIKS. Swedish: Erikshjälpen. [Literally “Erik’s

help”]. ERIKS Development Partner.

ERI-Net. Education Research Institutes Network.

(UNESCO Bangkok).

ERM. [History]. French: École Royale de Médecine

du Laos. Lao Royal School of Medicine.

ERR. Economic rate of return. (Compare with FRR,

IRR).

ESAP. Education Sector Annual Plan.

ESAPB. Education Sector Annual Program Budget.

ESCAP. Economic and Social Commission for Asia

and the Pacific. (UN).

ESCDF. Education Sector Capacity Development

Framework. See also CDF Note, ECDF.

ESD. Education for Sustainable Development.

ESDF. Education Sector Development Framework.

(2009-2015).

Note: There are four quite different documents

commonly cited in the literature as “ESDF”, three

of which are consultant reports. The official MOE

version is dated April 2009. The final consultant

report is dated September 2009.

ESDF PP. ESDF Preparation [for Implementation]

Plan.

ESDP. 1. Education Sector Development Program.

(See SDP). 2. Education Sector Development Plan

(2011-2015). (Pub. MOES, September 2011).

Note: Includes 7th 5-year Education Development

Plan (2011-2015).

ESDP 2 2. Education Sector Development Plan (2016-

2020). (Currently under development).

ESF. French: Écoles Sans Frontières. Schools

without Borders. (NGO, France).

ESFG. Education Sector Focal Group. (See ESWG

Focal Group; Focal Group).

ESIC. [Formerly]. Education and Sport Information

Center. (Now see ESIMC).

ESIMC. Education and Sport Information and Media

Center. (MOES, see Annex Figure 7).

ESITc[C]. [Formerly]. Educational Statistics and

Information Technology [Center]. (MOES / DP.

See Annex Figure 7).

ESL. English as a Second Language. (See also

EFL).

ESM. Education Sector MTEF. (See also

ESMTEF).

ESMF. Environment and Social Management

Framework.

ESMP. Environmental and Social Management Plan.

(WB).

ESMTEF. Education Sector Medium Term

Expenditure Framework. (See also E-MTEF,

MTEF).


18

ESP. 1. Education Sector Plan. 2. English for

Specific Purposes. (E.g., specifically for ASEAN;

see LEAP). 3. [History]. French: École

Supérieure de Pédagogie. Teacher Training

College for Secondary School Teachers. (See also

ESN).

ESQAC. Education Standards and Quality Assur-

ance Center. (MOES, see Annex Figure 7). (See

also CEQA; EQAC).

Note: The three abbreviations, CEQA, EQAC, and

ESQAC, all refer to the same organizational unit.

The abbreviation ESQAC is well-established and

is by far the most widely used. It accurately

represents the activities of the unit. The formal

Lao name, however, does not contain the word for

“standards”, so CEQA and EQAC are more

accurate direct translations.

ESRC. Education and Sports Research Center.

(MOES / DP. See Annex Figure 7).

ESW. Economic Sector Work (ADB).

ESWG. Education Sector Working Group. (Joint

GOL-development partners). (See also IEDWG).

Étage 1. [History]. French: 1st stage of École

primaire, Grades 1-3.

Étage 2. [History]. French: 2nd stage of École

primaire, Grades 4-6.

ETC. Education Technology Center. (Within RIES).

ETF. European Training Foundation.

Ethnicity. Forty-nine ethno-linguistic groups are

listed in the 2005 census report (47 listed in the

1995 census report). These groups are classified

into four ethno-linguistic families and subfamilies

(linguists list some 150 or more branches):

Tai-Kadai (sub-family Lao-Phutai);

Austro-Asiatic (sub-family Mon Khmer);

Hmong Iu-Mien (sub-family Hmong Iu-Mien);

and

Sino-Tibetan (subfamily Tibeto-Burman).

(See Annex Table 3 and Historical Note).

ETranR. Effective Transition Rate.

ETS. Educational Testing Service. (Non-profit

testing organization, USA. See also TOEFL;

TOEIC. Compare with IELTS).

EU. 1. European Union. 2. See EUR.

Historical Note: The European Economic Com-

munity (EEC) was established in 1957, was

officially renamed the European Community (EC)

in 1993, and was replaced by the European Union

(EU) in 2009.

EUR. Euro.

EVI. Economic Vulnerability Index. (One of three

indices on which a country’s LDC status is

determined; see also GNI per Capita, HAI).

EWEC. East-West Economic Corridor.

EWG. Education Working Group.

F

FA / EFA. Framework for Action on Education for

All (EFA). (See also EFA NAP).

Fa Ngum High School. [History]. Under the RLG,

a seven-year comprehensive high school (4+3)

financed by USAID and modeled after the

American comprehensive high school.

Falang. Also Farang. Lao: [Non-Asian] Foreigner.

FAM. Finance and Administration Manual. (WB).

FAR. Faculty of Architecture. (NUOL). Also

FOAR.

FC. Field Coordinator.

FCD. [History]. Foreign Currency Department.

FD. See DOF.

FDI. Foreign direct investment.

FEA. Faculty of Engineering and Architecture.

(NUOL).

FEB. Faculty of Economics and Business

[Administration]. (NUOL). Also FEBM, FEM.

FEBM. Faculty of Economics and Business

Administration. (NUOL). Also FEB, FEM.

FELM. Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission.

FEM. Faculty of Economics and [Business]

Management. (NUOL. Also FEB, FEBM).

FEN. Faculty of Engineering. (NUOL).

FES. Faculty of Environmental Sciences. (NUOL).

FEU. Far Eastern University. (Manila).

FG. 1. [ESWG] Focal Group. (See Focal Group).

2. Focus Group.

FGD. 1. Focal Group Discussion. 2. Focus Group

Discussion.

FI. Friends-International. (INGO).

FIDA. Finnish Development Cooperation Organiza-

tion. (NGO, Finland; not to be confused with

FINNIDA).

FIMC. Foreign Investment Management Committee.

FINNIDA. [Finnish] Ministry of Foreign Affairs –

Development Cooperation. (Not to be confused

with FIDA).

Five Domains of Education. (Lao: 5 Lakmoun).

The Five Domains of Education presented in

“Principles and General Education Development


19

Plan in the Lao PDR”, published by MOES in

1991 and still currently referenced:

Moral education;

Intellectual education;

Aesthetic education;

Physical education; and

Labor education.

Note: 1. Sometimes translated as the “Five

Aspects”, “Five Dimensions”, “Five Pillars”, or

“Five Principles”. The term “Five Principles” is

widely used but is inappropriate because a

principle is a statement of a rule or law and

requires a subject and predicate. The term

“Domains” might be preferred because of the

parallel with Bloom’s Taxonomy.

Note 2: Not to be confused with the Three Pillars

of Education Sector Development, the Four Pillars

of Education, or the Six Principles of Education.

Note 3: Often cited in connection with the Three

Characteristics of Education.

Note 4: The concept “labor education” today is

usually interpreted broadly as education about the

world of work, the labor market, skill develop-

ment, production, and entrepreneurship.

Five Pointed Star. Teaching method introduced in

1994 under EQIP I by TDC, targeting primary and

lower secondary education. (Also 5-Pointed Star).

The five points of the star are still currently

referenced:

Activity-based learning;

Questions for clarification;

Educational media;

Group work; and

Application to daily life.

Five Priority Programs. Priority programs for

national development by 2000 adopted by the 4th

Party Congress in 1986:

Food;

Environment;

Production for export;

Transport and communication; and

Education reforms.

Five-Year Plan. Key political level economic and

social plan document, covering 5-year periods.

Formally NSEDP.

FLA. Faculty of Law and [Public] Administration.

(NUOL).

FLP. Faculty of Law and Political Science.

(NUOL).

FLS. 1. Flexible Learning Strategies. 2. Faculty of

Library Science (NUOL).

FMA. Financial Management Assessment. (WB).

FMAC. Financial Management Adjustment Credit.

(WB).

FMCBC. Financial Management Capacity Building

Credit. (WB).

FMCBP. Financial Management Capacity Building

Project. (WB).

FMIS. Financial Management Information System.

(Compare with CMIS, EFIS, EMIS, GIS, PMIS).

FMR. Financial Monitoring Report. (WB).

FMS. [Formerly]. Faculty of Medical Sciences

(NUOL).

FNS. Faculty of Natural Sciences. (NUOL).

(Compare with FSS).

FOA. Faculty of Agriculture (NUOL). Also FOAG.

FOAG. Faculty of Agriculture (NUOL). Also FOA.

FOAR. Faculty of Architecture (NUOL). Also FAR.

Focal Group. ESWG Focal Group. (Also Thematic

Focal Group, Sub-SWG).

Note: These Focal Groups change from time to

time. FGs as of January 2014:

FG1: Basic Education;

FG2: Post-basic Education;

FG3: Education Management, Administration

and Performance Assessment; and

FG4: Education Research and Analysis.

FOE. 1. Faculty of Education. (NUOL) 2. Faculty

of Engineering. (NUOL, but see also FEN).

FOF. Faculty of Forestry (NUOL).

FOL. Faculty of Letters (NUOL).

FOS. Faculty of [Natural] Science (NUOL). (Also

FNS).

Foundation [Course; Program; Year]. [History].

Instruction intended to make up for formal or

informal deficiencies in requirements for an educa-

tion or training course or program, such as a pro-

gram intended for primary school graduates to

enter a teacher training program intended for lower

secondary school graduates.

Four Breakthroughs. Lao: Boukthalu. For educa-

tion, a goal expressed by the 8th Party Congress:

Create breakthrough changes in education and

training in terms of quality and quantity. More

broadly, slogan embodying goals introduced at the

9th Party Congress and presented in the 7th NSEDP.

(See also Three Builds).

Breakthrough in thinking, to release and renew

the unchanged, conservative mind, old stereo-

types, recklessness, unfairness, dogmatism, and

complacency;


20

Breakthrough in human resource development

in all areas, especially in development and

building capacity of civil servants in various

areas, according to the real situation;

Breakthrough in solving challenges in the

governance and management systems that are

hindering commercial production and service

delivery; and

Breakthrough in poverty eradication by seeking

the source of funds and special promotion

policy, and creating social and economic

infrastructure by setting priority on holistic

development.

Note: These are also referred to as “the Four

Dynamic Objectives”. In this connection

“Boukthalu” has sometimes been translated simply

as “dynamic”, as in “The Four Dynamics”.

Although not an accurate translation of the word

“boukthalu”, it does express the spirit of the 9th

Party Congress and the 7th NSEDP: The plan is

intended to be flexible and dynamic, based on the

actual situation at the time, to ensure achievement

of the planned objectives.

Four Pillars of Education. (In reference to the

“Delors Report”, Learning: The Treasure Within,

to UNESCO of the International Commission on

Education for the 21st Century, published in 1996):

Learning to know;

Learning to do;

Learning to live together; and

Learning to be.

Note: Not to be confused with the Three Pillars of

Education Sector Development in Laos.

Four Pillars of Poverty Eradication Strategy. Also

Four Sectors of Poverty Eradication Strategy.

Agriculture and forestry;

Education;

Health; and

Infrastructure, especially rural roads.

(See NGPES).

FPIC. Free Prior Informed Consultation.

Francophonie. [Formally]. French: Organisation

internationale de la Francophonie. International

Organization of the French-speaking World. (See

OIF).

French Colonial Period. Historical Note:

1893 Luang Prabang becomes French Protector-

ate; Vientiane and Champasak become

French colonies.

1895 (June) Sino-French treaty is signed, ceding

provinces Phongsaly and Muang Sing to the

French protectorate of Laos.

1899 Vientiane and Champasak are ruled from

Luang Prabang as part of the French

Protectorate.

1945 (April) King Sisavangvong, under pressure

from the Japanese coup de force, reluctantly

declares the French Protectorate null and

void.

1945 (September) Following the Japanese sur-

render, Vice-Regent and Prime Minister

Prince Phetsarath re-affirms Lao inde-

pendence from France (for which he is

dismissed by the King).

1949 (July) Laos becomes an Associated State

within the French Union, although with

limited autonomy.

1953 (October) Franco-Lao Treaty of Amity &

Association transfers French powers (except

military) to RLG; Laos remains in the

French Union.

1954 (July) Final Declaration of the Geneva

Conference acknowledges full independence

and sovereignty of the Royal Kingdom of

Laos. French Military Mission remains in

place until December 1975 to train the Royal

Lao Army.

1957 (August) Revised Constitution omits

reference to the French Union.

FRESH. Focusing Resources on Effective School

Health. (Initiative by UNESCO, WHO, UNICEF,

WFP, WB, and others as part of the EFA Dakar

agenda in 2000).

FRM. Feedback and Resolution Mechanism.

FRR. Financial rate of return. (Compare with ERR,

IRR).

FRS. Financial Reporting System.

FS. Functional Skills.

FSS. Faculty of Social Sciences. (NUOL).

(Compare with FNS).

FT. Fixed Tranche. (EC budget support). (Compare

with VT).

FTA. Free trade area.

FTI[-CF]. [Formerly] Fast Track Initiative [-

Catalytic Fund]. (Launched 2002; sponsored by

WB); renamed GPE in September 2011).

FTP. Full Technical Proposal.

FY. Fiscal Year (in Laos beginning October 1 and

ending September 30). (Compare with AY, CY,

SY).

FYP. Five Year Plan. (Formally National Socio-

Economic Development Plan, NSEDP).


21

G

G&M. Governance and Management.

G1-G5. Grade [in primary school]. (Also P1-P5).

(Compare with M1-M4, M5-M7).

GAA. German Agro Action. (See DWHH).

GAD. Gender and Development.

GAP. Gender Action Plan.

GAPE. Global Association for People and the

Environment. (NGO).

GAR. Gross Admission Rate. Note: UIS does not

define this term. When this term is written, Gross

Intake Ratio (GIR) is probably meant.

GATS. General Agreement on Trade in Services.

GBS. General Budget Support. (Compare with SBS;

see also PRSO).

GBV. Gender Based Violence.

GCAC. Give Children a Choice. (NGO, USA).

GCDES. Government’s Capacity Development in

the Education Sector. (External financing by EC).

GCE. 1. Global Citizenship Education. 2. Global

Campaign for Education [beyond 2015].

(UNESCO initiative).

GCT. 1. Graduate Certificate of Teaching.

2. Guidelines for Certification of Teachers.

GDA. Gender and Development Association. (Lao

NPA, definition 2). (Formerly GDG; WID).

GDG. Gender and Development Group [of like-

minded NGOs]. (Formerly WID; re-constituted as

GDA; Lao NPA, definition 2).

GDP p. c. Gross Domestic Product per capita.

[GDP/Population]

GDP. Gross Domestic Product.

GDP/c. Gross Domestic Product per capita

[GDP/Population].

GE. General Education. (Compare with TVET).

GEEU. [Formerly]. Gender and Ethnic Education

Unit. (See IEC).

GEFI. [UN Secretary-General’s] Global Education

First Initiative.

GEGAP. Gender and Ethnic Groups Action Plan.

GEGDP. Gender and Ethnic Groups Development

Plan.

GEIC. General Education Inspection Committee

(MOES). Also GICE, IC.

GEM. Global EFA Meeting.

GEMEU. [Formerly]. Gender and Ethnic Minority

Unit (MOES). (See IEC).

GEMU. [Formerly]. Gender and Ethnic Minority

Education Unit (MOES). (See IEC).

Gender Inequality Index. Index of gender disparity

based on reproductive health, empowerment, and

labor market participation; introduced by UNDP.

(Compare with Gender Parity Index).

Gender Parity Index. (GPI). UIS Definition: Ratio

of female to male values of a given indicator (ratio

of females/males for a given statistic, e.g.

GERfemale/GERmale). (Compare with Gender

Ratio).

Note that the valid range of the GPI is from 0 (in

the complete absence of females) to ∞ (in the

complete absence of males). Gender Parity is

indicated when GPI = 1.0. See also Gender Ratio,

Note 2.

Gender Ratio. (GR). (Also referred to as Sex

Ratio).

Note 1: UIS does not explicitly define this statistic,

although it is widely used in UNESCO documents,

where it refers to the ratio of the absolute number

of females to the absolute number of males for a

given indicator. E.g. the ratio of the number of

females enrolled to the number of males enrolled,

or equivalently, the ratio of the proportion of

enrollees who are female to the proportion of

enrollees who are male, i.e., %Female/%Male, or

f/m.

Note 2: If GR known, the relative proportions f

and m are easily calculated: f=GR/(1+GR), and

m=1/(1+GR).

Note 3: By long tradition, demographers define

GR as the ratio of males/females, whereas

educators generally use the inverse. (Compare

with Gender Parity Index).

Note 4: The valid range of the GR is from 0 (in the

complete absence of females) to ∞ (in the com-

plete absence of males). Gender Parity is

indicated when GR = 1.0.

GENIA. Gender in Education Network in Asia-

Pacific.

GER. Gross Enrollment Ratio. (Compare with

NER).

GFIS. Government Financial Management

Information System.

GFP. Gender Focal Point.

GGPs. Grant-in-Aid Scheme for Grassroots Human

Security projects. (Government of Japan).

GICE. General Inspection Committee for Education.

Also GEIC, IC.

GID. Gender Inclusion and Disability.

GII. Gender Inequality Index. (Compare with GPI).


22

GIR. 1. Gross Intake Ratio. (Compare with NIR).

2. Governance and Institutional Reform.

GIS. Geographic Information System. (Compare

with CMIS, EMIS, FMIS, PMIS).

GIZ. German: [Deutsche] Gesellschaft für

Internationale Zusammenarbeit [German Agency

for International Cooperation]. (Formerly GTZ).

(See also DFG).

GKS. Global Korea Scholarship.

GMR. Global Monitoring Report.

Note: UNESCO publishes an annual EFA Global

Monitoring Report. The World Bank and the IMF

publish an annual MDG Global Monitoring

Report.

GMS. Greater Mekong Sub-region. (Compare with

Mekong Sub-region).

GMSARN. Greater Mekong Sub-region Academic

and Research Network.

GNI/c. See GNI per Capita.

GNI [per Capita]. Gross National Income [per

person in the population].

GNP. Gross National Product.

GOA. Government of Australia.

GOJ. Government of Japan.

GOL. Government of Lao People’s Democratic

Republic.

GPAR. Governance and Public Administration

Reform.

GPE. Global Partnership for Education. (Formerly

EFA-FTI; see also FTI).

GPI. 1. Gender Parity Index. 2. Good People

International. (NGO, Korea).

GPN. General Procurement Notice. (WB).

GR. Gender Ratio.

Grade 0. (Also Grade Zero, Pre-Primary). Special

Pre-school class attached to a primary school to

prepare 5-year-old children to enter Grade 1,

particularly targeting non-Lao ethnic groups, girls,

and children from the poorest families who have

not attended Kindergarten. (See Annex Figure 1

and Annex Figure 3. Compare with ECCD, Pre-

primary, Pre-school).

GRALE. Global Report on Adult Learning and

Education. (UNESCO).

Greater Mekong Sub-region. Cambodia, China

(Yunnan Province), Laos, Myanmar, Thailand,

Vietnam. (Compare with Mekong Sub-region).

GRID. Gender Resource Information Development

Project. (Supported by UNDP; NORAD; SNV).

Gross Enrollment Ratio. (GER). UIS Definition:

Total enrollment in a specific level of education,

regardless of age, expressed as a percentage of the

eligible official school-age population correspond-

ing to the same level of education in a given

school-year. (Compare with Net Enrollment Rate,

Age-Specific Enrollment Rate).

Gross Entry Ratio. UIS Definition: Total number

of new entrants to a given level of education,


population of theoretical entrance age for that

level. (Compare with Gross Intake Ratio).

Gross Graduation Ratio. UIS Definition: Number

of graduates, regardless of age, in a given level or

program, expressed as a percentage of the

population at the theoretical graduation age for that

level or program.

Gross Intake Ratio (GIR) [in the 1st grade of

primary]. UIS Definition: Total number of new

entrants in the 1st grade of primary education,


population at the official primary school-entrance

age. (Compare with NIR).

Groupe Scolaire. [History]. French: In some

communities, a network or cluster of typically 3 - 5

incomplete primary schools, which provide mutual

pedagogical support and collectively provide

complete primary schooling. (This historical term

is still in use in some areas). (See Complete

school; Incomplete school; School cluster; School

network; Muad; Lower primary; upper primary).

GTZ. [Formerly]. German: [Deutsche] Gesellschaft

für Technische Zusammenarbeit [German Agency

for Technical Cooperation]. (Renamed GIZ in

2010). (See also DFG).

H

HACT. Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers.

Haeng Xad teacher. Lao. National Teacher.

(Honorific title for teacher selected at national

level). Compare with Paxaxon Teacher.

HAI. Human Assets Index. (One of three indices on

which a country’s LDC status is determined; see

also GNI per Capita, EVI).

HD. Higher Diploma. (Compare with D, HD.TVE,

HDC).

HD.TVE. Higher Diploma in TVE.

HDC. Higher Diploma Continuous. (Compare with

HD).

HDI. 1. Human Development Index (UNDP).

2. Humpty Dumpty Institute. (NGO, USA).

HE. Higher education.

HEC. Higher Education Commission.

HEI. Higher education institution.


23

Helvetas [Swiss Intercooperation]. Swiss

Association for International Cooperation.

HEMIS. Higher Education Management Information

System.

HEMP. Higher Education Master Plan.

HEQS. Higher Education Quality Standards.

HES. Higher education subsector.

HI. 1. Handicap International. (INGO). 2. Hearing

impairment.

HIB. Handicap International Belgium. (NGO,

Belgium).

Hid sipsong. Lao: Twelve [monthly] Buddhist

Festivals [of the annual ritual cycle].

HIF. Handicap International France. (NGO,

France).

HIPC. Heavily Indebted Poor Country.

HIPV. [History]. Higher Education Institute of

Pedagogy in Vientiane. (See PUV)

HIV/AIDS. Human immunodeficiency virus

infection / acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

HJA. Lao: Huam Jai Asasamak [Join Hearts

Volunteers]. Lao Volunteer Service.

HLF4. 4th High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness.

(Busan, Republic of Korea, 2011).

Honorific Title. (Of teachers). Title officially

awarded on the basis of merit in teaching and

associated with salary supplements:

Lao term English term .

Haeng Xad National Teacher

Paxaxon People’s Teacher

. (Compare with Rank).

Note: These categories are defined in the

Education Law of 2007.

HPAE. High-performing Asian economies.

HPH. Huaphanh Province.

HPI. [History]. Higher Pedagogical Institute. (See

also ESP, definition 3).

HPS. Health Promotion in Primary Schools.

HRBA. Human Rights Based Approach. (Compare

with DDA, RBA).

HRD. Human resource development.

HRDME. Also HRD-ME. Human Resource

Development for a Market Economy. (Lao-

German development cooperation program).

HRDNC. Human Resource Development National

Commission. (Compare with [HRD] NTC,

definition 3).

HRE. Human Rights Education.

HRM. Human resource management.

HTVED. 1. Higher, technical, and vocational

education. 2. [Formerly]. See DVTHE.

Hybrid Courses. Courses based on a combination of

face to face traditional training sequences, and

monitoring of online courses. (Also “blended

learning”, “technology-mediated instruction”,

“web-enhanced instruction”, “mixed-mode

instruction”, and others).

I

I/A. Imprest Account.

IAAPS. International Association for Asia Pacific

Studies.

IAD. Institute for Administration Development.

IAG. Information, Advice, and Guidance. (In-school

career counselling).

IAI. Initiative for ASEAN Integration.

IAPSO. Inter-Agency Procurement Service Office.

(UNDP).

IARS. Imprest Account Reconciliation Statement.

IB. 1. International Baccalaureate. (International

educational foundation; Geneva). 2. [History].

French: Institut Bouddhique. Institute of Buddhist

Studies. (See also Institut Indigène d’Études

Bouddhiques).

IBE. International Bureau of Education. (Geneva).

IBSP. Intergovernmental Programs in Basic

Sciences. (UNESCO).

IC. Inspection Committee (MOES). (See also

GICE).

ICA. [History]. [United States] International

Cooperation Agency. (Predecessor to USAID).

ICAE. International Council for Adult Education.

ICB. International Competitive Bidding. (Compare

with DP, IS, LCB, NCB).

ICCPR. International Covenant on Civil and

Political Rights.

ICERD. International Convention on the Elimination

of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

ICESCR. International Covenant on Economic,

Social and Cultural Rights.

ICO. International charitable organization.

ICR. 1. Institute for Cultural Research. (Ministry of

Information, Culture, and Tourism; see also ILR).

2. Implementation Completion Report. (WB,

previously PCR).

ICS. 1. Dutch: Internationaal Christelijk Steunfonds

[International Christian Support Fund] (NGO,

Netherlands). 2. International Child Support


24

(NGO, Netherlands). 3. Individual Consultant

Selection. (ADB, WB).

ICT. Information and Communication Technology.

ICT4D. ICT for Development.

ICT4E. ICT for Education. (See also ICT4LE).

ICT4IE. ICT for Illiteracy Eradication.

ICT4LE. ICT for Lao Education.

ICTC. 1. International Cooperation and Training

Center (Vientiane). 2. Information Communica-

tion and Technology Center. (MOES, See Annex

Figure 7).

ID. Implementing Department.

IDA. International Development Association. (Con-

cessional financing or “soft-loan” arm of the

World Bank Group).

IDCB. Institutional Development and Capacity

Building.

IDD Iodine Deficiency Disorder.

IDF. 1. Institutional Development Fund (WB).

2. International Development Fund.

IDP. International Development Partner.

IDWG. (See IEDWG).

IE. Inclusive education.

IEA. International Association for the Evaluation of

Educational Achievement. (Compare with PISA).

IEAD. Institute for Education Administration

Development. (See IEMD. See Annex Figure 7).

IEAWN. Inclusive Education and Advancement of

Women Network.

IEC. 1. Inclusive Education Center. (MOES /

DPPE. See Annex Figure 7). 2. Information,

Education; Communication.

IECD. Integrated Early Childhood Development

(UNICEF). (See also ECCD; ECCE; ECED; Pre-

school).

IEDWG. Informal Education Donor Working

Group. (Informal group for coordination and

consultation related to ESWG meetings).

IEE. Initial Environmental Examination.

IELTS. International English Language Testing

System. (British. Compare with ETS).

IEMD. Institute for Educational Management

Development. (MOES, see Annex Figure 7).

IENSC. Inclusive Education National Steering

Committee. (MOES).

IFA. Integrated Fiduciary Assessment.

IFB. Invitation for Bids.

IFI. International Financial Institution.

IFEAD. Institute for Educational Administration

Development. Also IEAD. (See IEMD).

IFMT. French: Institut de la Francophonie pour la

Médecine Tropicale. Francophone Institute for

Tropical Medicine. Author trans.

IFR. Interim Financial Report.

IGA. Income generating activity.

IGP. Income generating project.

II. International institution.

IIEP. [UNESCO] International Institute for

Educational Planning. (In Paris).

IITE. [UNESCO] Institute for Information

Technology in Education. (In Moscow).

ILE. International Learning Exchange. (UNICEF;

See WASH, WinS).

iLEAD. Initiative for Livelihoods Education and

Development. (AEA, with external financing by

EU).

ILO. International Labor Organization.

Historical Note: Laos became a member state in

1965, but active participation began in the late

1980s.

ILR. Institute for Linguistic Research. (Ministry of

Information, Culture, and Tourism; formerly a

department within ICR, definition 1).

IM. Instructional materials.

IMC. Information and Media Center. (MOES, See

Annex Figure 7).

IMCI. Integrated Management of Childhood Illness.

IMDU. Instructional Materials Development Unit.

(In TEADC).

IMF. International Monetary Fund.

IMU. Instructional Materials Unit. (MOES/DOF).

Incomplete school. 1. Primary school offering

instruction in fewer than 5 grades, often due to an

insufficient number of teachers to provide

instruction in all five grades. 2. Secondary school

containing only one level, usually referring to

lower secondary level only. (Compare with

Complete school, Multi-grade school, Shifting

classes. See also School cluster, Village school).

(See Annex Figure 2).

Independence Day. See French Colonial Period.

(Sometimes National Day is referred to as

Independence Day).

INGO. Also iNGO. International NGO.

Initiative, the. See FTI.


25

INNOTECH. SEAMEO Regional Center for

Educational Innovation and Technology.

INP. French: Institut National Polytechnique.

National Polytechnic Institute. (See also NPI).

INQAAHE. International Network for Quality

Assurance Agencies in Higher Education.

INSET. In-service education and training. (See also

PRESET and UPSET).

Institut de Droit et d’Administration. [History].

French: Institute of Law and Administration.

Institut Indigène d’Études Bouddhiques. [History].

French: [Indigenous] Institute of Buddhist Studies.

Historical Note: Established 1944 at Wat Luang

Pakse.

Institute. 1. Specialized post-secondary or tertiary

professional education and training institution.

(E.g., EADI, IEAD, LANITH, NIEQA, NPI,

Polytechnic Institute, VEDI). 2. Specialized

research institution. (E.g. RIES).

Integrated Vocational Education and Training.

(IVET). Training approach which includes: (a)

Formal, non-formal, and informal education and

training; (b) Theoretical and practical teaching and

learning organized at the same institutions accord-

ing to specified conditions; and (c) Transfer of

credits between formal and non-formal programs.

International dollar. Hypothetical unit of currency

that has the same purchasing power that the US

dollar has in the United States at a given point in

time. It is widely used by economists to make

comparisons between countries and over time. It is

based on Purchasing Power Parity (PPP).

INVENT. Integrated Waste Management Modules

for Different Courses of Graduate Studies.

(NUOL cooperation with HochschuleBremen,

Bremen University of AppliedSciences).

Note: Not to be confused with the homophonous (same sound) InWEnt.

InWEnt. German: Internationale Weiterbildung und

Entwicklung gemeinnützige GmbH [Capacity

Building International]. (Germany).

Note: Not to be confused with the homophonous (same sound) INVENT.

IOM. International Organization for Migration.

IP. Inception Phase.

IPB. [History]. International Public Bidding.

IPEC. International Program on the Elimination of

Child Labor. (ILO program; see also TICW).

IPRSP. Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper.

(WB. See also PRSP; NPEP; NGPES).

IPSA. Initial Poverty and Social Analysis (ADB).

IQA. Internal Quality Assurance. (For improvement

of internal mechanisms for quality assurance).

(Compare with EQA).

IRD. International Relief and Development. (INGO,

USA).

IRDA. [History]. French: Institut Royale de Droit et

d’Administration. Royal Institute of Law and

Administration.

IRR. 1. Implementing Rules and Regulations

(MOF). 2. Internal Rate of Return. (See also

ERR; FRR).

IRRI. International Rice Research Institute. Lao

branch established 2007.

IRW. Integrated Reading and Writing [approach to

second language teaching].

IS. International shopping. (Compare with DP, ICB,

LCB).

ISCED. International Standard Classification of

Education. (UNESCO). Nine main categories

relevant to Laos are defined (see also Annex

Figure 1). Note that several digits are used to

indicate distinctions within main categories:

0 Early childhood; Pre-primary education;

1 Primary education;

2 Lower secondary education;

34 Upper secondary, general

35 Upper secondary, vocational

44 Post-secondary, non-tertiary, general;

45 Post-secondary, non-tertiary, vocational;

5 Short-cycle tertiary education;

6 Bachelor's degree or equivalent;

7 Master's degree or equivalent; and

8 Doctor's degree or equivalent.

Note 1: For many of these main categories, several

sub-categories are also assigned numerical codes.

Note 2: References to 1997 codes are sometimes

denoted ISCED97. The current edition is denoted

ISCED 2011.

Note 3: Compare with ISCO, ISIC.

ISCO. International Standard Classification of

Occupations. (ILO). (Compare with ISCED,

ISIC).

ISDS. Integrated Safeguards Data Sheet. (WB).

ISIC. International Standard Industrial Classification

[of All Economic Activities]. (United Nations

system for classifying economic data). (Compare

with ISCED, ISCO).

ISM. Implementation Support Mission


26

ISP. [History]. French: Institut Supérieure de

Pédagogie. Higher Institute of Pedagogy. (See

also PUV).

ISSE. Improving the Secondary School Environ-

ment. (External financing by JICA).

ISTTD. In-service Teacher Training Division. (In

DTE; compare with PSTTD).

ISTTUC. In-service Teacher Training and

Upgrading Center. (See also ISTUC; TUC).

ISTUC. In-service Teacher Upgrading Center. (See

also ISTTUC; TUC).

IT. Information technology. (Compare with ICT).

ITC. Information Technology Center. (Under

STEA).

ITE. Institute of Technical Education. (Singapore).

ITECC. International Trade Exhibition and

Convention Center

ITSME. Improving In-service Teacher Training for

Science and Mathematics Education. (Supported

by JICA). Sometimes incorrectly given as ISTME.

IU. Implementation Unit.

IUPv[V]. [History]. French: Institut universitaire de

pédagogie [de Vientiane]. University Institute of

Pedagogy [at Dong Dok]. Also referred to as

Institute of Pedagogy, University of Pedagogy,

Pedagogical University [of Vientiane], Upper

School of Pedagogy, and more (See PUV).

IVEP. International Volunteer Exchange Program.

(Volunteer program of the MCC).

IVET. Sometimes “iVET”. 1. Integrated Vocational

Education and Training. (GIZ usage; most

common usage in Laos). 2. Project externally

financed by German government. 3. Initial

Vocational Education and Training. (ILO usage).

IVET Certificate. [Formerly]. Now see TVET

Certificate.

IVETS. Integrated Vocational Education and Train-

ing System.

IV-Japan. International Cooperation NGO, Japan.

(Formerly International Volunteers Association of

Japan).

IVS. [History]. International Voluntary Services,

Inc. (NGO, USA).

IWGE. International Working Group on Education.

(Replaced by ESWG; IEDWG).

IWRAW. International Women’s Rights Action

Watch.

IYIPO. International Young Inventors Project

Olympiad. (Held annually since 2007 in Tblisi,

Georgia).

J

JAIF. Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund.

JaLYA. Japan-Laos Youth Association. (NGO,

Japan).

JAR. Joint Annual Review. (Compare with JSAR).

Jardins d’enfants. [History]. French: Literally

equivalent to German “Kindergarten”, Pre-school,

nursery school. See ECCE.

Jataka. Pali: Literally “Birth [story]”. A voluminous

collection of moral-bearing stories about the

previous lives of the Buddha.

Historical Note: Many of these stories, especially

the animal fables, are well-known to Lao children

and adults. Some closely parallel stories

embedded in other cultural traditions, including

Aesop’s fables.

JBIC. Japan Bank for International Cooperation.

JBU. Japan Federation of Basic Industry Worker’s

Union.

JCC. Joint Coordinating Committee.

JD. Job Description.

JDS. Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resource

Development Scholarships.

JENESYS. Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange

for Students and Youths.

JETRO. Japan External Trade Organization.

JFIT. Japanese Funds in Trust.

JFPR. Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction.

JICA. Japan International Cooperation Agency.

JICC. Japan Information and Culture Center

(Embassy of Japan, Vientiane).

JICE. Japan International Cooperation Center.

JICHIRO. All Japan Prefectural and Municipal

Workers Union. (NGO).

JITCO. Japan International Training Cooperation

Organization.

JOCA. Japan Overseas Cooperative Association.

(See also JOCV).

JOCV[/SV]. Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers

[/Senior Volunteer]. (See also JOCA).

JODC. Japan Overseas Development Corporation.

JOICFP. Japanese Organization for International

Cooperation in Family Planning.

Jomtien. Reference to the World Conference on

Education for All, held in Jomtien, Thailand,

March 5-9, 1990, resulting in the World

Declaration on Education For All. Laos

participated and was a signatory.

Historical Note: See also APPEAL, Karachi Plan.


27

JRM. Joint Review Mission.

JSAR. Joint Semi-Annual Review. (Compare with

JAR).

JSDF. Japanese Social Development Fund.

JSF. Japan Special Fund. (At the ADB).

JSRC. Japan Sotoshu [a school of Japanese Zen

Buddhism] Relief Committee. (Renamed SVA in

1999, reverted to JSRC in 2005).

JSRM. Joint Sector Review Mission.

Junior high school. See Lower secondary school.

Junior primary school. See Lower primary school.

JV. Joint venture.

K

K, KN, K . Kip. (Lao currency unit, see also LAK.

Plural: Kip).

KAB. Know[ing] about Business. (ILO).

Karachi Plan. [History]. Plan for universal,

compulsory, and free primary education by 1980.

Historical Note: Initiated at a UNESCO meeting

in Karachi, Pakistan, in January 1960. Led in

April 1962 at a Meeting of Ministers of Education

of Asian [UNESCO] Member States to establish-

ment of an intergovernmental framework for

cooperation. Laos was one of 18 signatories.

(Compare with APPEAL, Jomtien).

KfW. German: Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau.

(German Development Bank).

KG. Kindergarten. Sometimes designating year

level KG1, KG2, KG3

KGSP. Korean Government Scholarship Program.

Khet. Lao. Traditional informal administrative unit

between village level and district level for com-

munication and some administrative and police

services.

KHM. Khammuane Province. (Also KMN).

Khou. See Ku.

Khoueng. Lao: Province.

Khumban. Lao: Village group, below district level.

(Compare with Ban, Tasseng).

KI. Key informant.

KII. Key informant interview.

Kindergarten. Considered a part of “Pre-school”,

nominally for children aged 3 - 5 years. (Compare

with Pre-primary; Pre-school; see Annex Figure 3).

KIS. Kiettisack International School. (Private,

Vientiane).

KKAFF. Korea-Asia Friendship Foundation.

KMN. Khammuane Province. (Also KHM).

KOICA. Korean International Cooperation Agency.

KOV. Korea Overseas Volunteers.

KPI. Key Performance Indicator.

KRIVET. Korea Research Institute for Vocational

Education and Training.

Ku. Also Khou. Lao: Teacher, usually at primary

level. Sometimes spelled “Kru”. (From Sanskrit

Guru). (Compare with Ajan).

KUST. Kunming University of Science and

Technology. (In Kunming, Yunnan Province,

China).

KVTS. Khammuane Vocational and Technical

School. (At Thakek, external financing by Lux-

Development).

L

LAA. [History]. Lao American Association.

L.A.O.S. Lao Academic Opportunity Scheme.

L1. Mother-tongue or native language. (Also MT,

definition 2. Compare with L2).

L2. Second language. (Compare with L1).

LA. Logistics Aid.

LAB. Lao Association of the Blind.

LABEP. Lao[s]-Australian Basic Education Project

(1999-2007). (Component of BEGP, parallel co-

financed by AusAID).

LAC. Lao American College. (Vientiane).

LACI. Loan Administration Change Initiative.

(WB).

LADLF. Lao-Australia Development Learning

Facility.

LADP. Long [District, Luangnamtha Province]

Alternative Development Project.

LAELP. Lao Australian English Language Project.

LAI. Lao Australia Institute.

LAK. Lao Kip. (See also K, KN, K).

LALIC. Laos Library and Information Consortium.

LAMP. Literacy Assessment and Monitoring

Program. (UIS, UNESCO Bangkok)

Land-linked. Historical Note: Laos is the only

Southeast Asian country without a seacoast,

without sea links with the outside world. Although

the trade routes before the French Colonial Period

passed through Luang Prabang, Laos has always

been relatively isolated from the world outside

peninsular Southeast Asia, as suggested by the

term “land-locked”.

With the focus increasingly on Southeast Asian

and global economic integration and investment in

the north-south and east-west transport corridors


28

linking Laos with the regional markets, the 7th

Party Congress, March 2001, included in the

general goals of the Socio-Economic Development

Strategy for the ten-year period 2001-2010,

“Develop our country to be the central point of

transit of the region in the future”, i.e., as a

transport hub – no longer isolated, but instead

“land-linked”. This was referred to as the “2020

Strategy”. (See 2020 Goal).

LANITH. Lao National Institute of Tourism and

Hospitality.

LANPRO. Lao adaptation of ANPRO.

LANS. Laos Australian National Scholarship.

Lao. The word “Lao” can be used as either a noun or

an adjective. As an adjective it can describe “the

Lao people”, “the Lao culture”, “Lao citizens”, etc.

As a noun, “Lao” can refer to:

The language of the ethnic Lao people (e.g.,

“She speaks Lao” or “The book is written in

Lao”);

A person of Lao ethnicity (e.g., “The conference

was attended by three Lao, two Hmong, and a

Khmou.”); or

A Lao citizen regardless of ethnicity (e.g. “At

last! They finally appointed a Lao as Country

Director instead of a falang!”)

Note 1: The plural form of “Lao” in reference to a

person of Lao ethnicity or Lao citizenship is

“Lao”, e.g., “Three Lao attended the conference.”

Note 2: “Lao” is sometimes used to refer to the

country (e.g., “He lives in Lao”), but purists regard

this as poor style. (See Laos).

Lao Loum. Lao: “Lowland” Lao, comprising the

Tai-Kadai language family (Lao-Phutai sub-

family) and four ethnic groups. (See Ethnicity; see

also Annex Table 3).

Historical Note: The RLG classified the population

of Laos into three groups based on the assumed

topographical distribution, with little regard to

ethno-linguistic characteristics. The 1992 Central

Party Resolution on Ethnic Minorities recom-

mended that this classification no longer be used.

(See Note to Annex Table 3).

Lao Ngyai. [History]. Lao: Great Laos. The first

Lao newspaper, published 1941-1945 and focusing

mainly on cultural, literary, and linguistic issues.

Lao Soung. Lao: “Highland” Lao or “hill tribes”,

comprising the Hmong-Iu Mien and Chine-Tibetan

language families (or Hmong-Iu Mien and Tibeto-

Burman sub-families) and four ethnic groups. (See

Historical Note to Lao Loum; see also Ethnicity).

Lao Theung. Lao: “Upland” or “midland” Lao or

“Slope-dwellers”, comprising the Austro-Asiatic

language family (Mon Khmer sub-family) and

fifteen ethnic groups. (See Historical Note to Lao

Loum; see also Ethnicity).

Laoization. [History]. The process, begun after the

French Colonial Period, of revision of the school

curriculum to make it more suitable to Lao

conditions and translation of instructional materials

from French into the Lao language.

Laos. When the French colonized Laos in 1893 (see

French Colonial Period), they referred to the

country as “Le Pays des Laos”, the Land of the

Laos (i.e., Land of the Lao people), the plural form

of the largest and dominant ethnic group (one Lao,

many Laos). Some contemporary English writing

also referred to “the land of the Laos”, i.e., plural

form. Today the name of is officially Lao PDR or

Laos, as short form.

LAO-SC. Lao American Alumni Overseas Students

Club.

Laosese. [History]. In some documents from the

French Colonial Period the word “Laosese” was

used as either a noun referring to a Lao person or

the Lao language or an adjective describing a Lao

person or the Lao language. Compare with Lao.

Laotian. [History]. (Pronounced “La o' shan” or

“Lay o' shan”). Noun referring to a Lao person or

the Lao language. Adjective describing a Lao

person or the Lao language. Compare with Lao.

Note: Some writers use “Laotian” to include any

person of Lao nationality and the term “Lao” to

include only members of the Tai-Kadai ethno-

linguistic family. (See Ethnicity).

LARLP. Laos-Australia Rural Livelihoods Program.

LASP. Lao-Australian Scholarship Program.

LASS. Lao [National] Academy of Social Sciences.

LBFO. Lao Buddhist Fellowship Organization.

Lca/C. Letter of Credit.

LCB. Local competitive bidding. (Compare with

DP, ICB, IS).

LCCD. Learning for Child and Community [Project]

(UNICEF).

LCCI. 1. Lao Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

(Also LNCCI). 2. London Chamber of Commerce

and Industry.

LCHRD. Leading Committee on Human Resource

Development (of GOL).

LCS. Least Cost Selection. (WB).

LDC. 1. Least Developed Country. (Also LLDC).

2. Less developed country.

Note 1: Laos is categorized by the United Nations

as a Least Developed Country. The 6th Party

Congress in March 1996 defined the long term

goal as exiting the status of Least Developed

County by 2020. (See 2020 Goal). (Continued)


29

Note 2: In some contexts LCD refers to “Less

Developed Country”, and “Least Developed

country” is designated “LLDC”, but in the Lao

context, LCD always refers to “Least Developed

Country”.

LDPA. Lao Disabled People’s Association.

LDR: Lao Development Report. (World Bank).

LDWDC. Lao Disabled Women’s Development

Center.

LE. Learning Element. (In an MOI).

Le Bac. See Baccalauréat.

LeAF. Learning Assessment Framework.

LEAP. Lao-Australian English for ASEAN

Purposes.

LECS. Lao Expenditure and Consumption Survey.

(First conducted 1992/93, also called LECS I).

(See also MICS).

LECS[ I] 1992/93

LECS II 1997/98

LECS III 2002/03

LECV IV 2007/08

LECS V 2012/13

LEG. Local education group. (See ESWG).

LELC. LEOT English Learning Center.

LEMTEP. Lao Ethnic Minority Teacher Education

Program (supported by LABEP).

LEOT. Lao Education Opportunities Trust. (NGO,

UK).

LERNET. Lao Education and Research Network.

LFA. 1. Logical Framework Analysis. 2. Logical

Framework Approach.

LFCLS. Laos Labor Force and Child Labor Survey.

2010.

LFIS. Loan and Grant Financial Information

Service. Also LGFIS. (ADB).

LFNC. Lao Front for National Construction. Lao:

Neo Lao Sang Xat.

Note 1: Sometimes incorrectly translated as “Lao

Front for National Reconstruction”, but that is not

correct; the Lao word used, “sang”, clearly means

“construction”, not “reconstruction”. (Concerning

the Lao word “sang”, see Note to Three Builds).

Note 2: LFNC is sometimes incorrectly described

as a “mass organization”. (See Note to Mass

Organization).

Historical Note: Successor in 1979 to the LPF.

LFNR. Lao Front for National Reconstruction.

(Incorrect translation. See LFNC, Note 1).

LFS. Labor Force Survey.

LFTU. Lao Federation of Trade Unions. (Also

LTUF).

LGFA. Lao-German Friendship Association.

LGFIS. Loan and Grant Financial Information

Service. (ADB).

LGTS. [Formerly]. Lao-German Technical School.

(Renamed Km 3 Technical School in 2010).

LGU. Local government unit.

LI. Legislative instrument.

Liberated Zone. The name given by the Pathet Lao

to those gradually expanding parts of Laos under

their control until the Revolution in December

1975.

LIEDC. Lao-India Entrepreneurship Development

Center.

LIFE. Literacy Initiative for Empowerment.

LIL. Learning and Innovation Loan. (WB).

LKVTC. Lao Korea Vocational Training Center.

(Under MOLSW).

LJC. Lao-Japan Center for Human Resources

Cooperation (NUOL).

LL. Labor Law. (Most recent, 2014).

LLA. Lao Language Aide. (Lao volunteers to work

with “at risk” students to support Lao language

development).

LLB. [Historical]. Local Limited Bidding.

LLDC. 1. Least developed country. 2. Land-locked

developing country.

LLL. 1. Dutch: Laat Laos Leren. [Let Laos Learn].

(NGO, Netherlands). 2. Lifelong Learning.

LLU. Lao Labor Union. (Lao Federation of Trade

Unions, LFTU).

LMI. 1. Lower Mekong Initiative. (Multi-national

partnership among Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar,

Thailand, Vietnam, and the United States).

2. Labor market information. (See also LMIS).

LMIS. Labor Market Information System.

LMS. Learning Management System. (See also

CMS; VLE).

LN. Luangnamtha Province. (Also LNT).

LNADA. Lao National Data Archive. (See DOS).

LNCCi[I]. Lao National Chamber of Commerce [and

Industry]. (Also LCCI).

LNCDC. Lao National Commission on Drugs

Control.

LNCF. Lao National Construction Front. (Non-

standard translation. See LFNC).

LNLS. Lao National Literacy Survey (2002).


30

LNMC. Lao National Mekong Committee.

LNS. [History]. Lao National Syllabus.

LNSC. (Formerly). Lao National Sports Committee.

(MOES, see Annex Figure 7). (Merged with MOE

in September 2011 to form MOES).

LNT. Luangnamtha Province. (Also LN).

LNTA. Lao National Tourism Administration.

LNTV. Lao National Television.

LNVQF. Lao National Vocational Qualifications

Framework. Also NVQF; NQF, VQF.

LOC. Lao Olympic Committee. See NOCL.

Location Supplement. Salary supplement for

teachers serving in remote, isolated, or especially

difficult areas, determined as a percent of net

salary, as follows:

Remote and isolated areas 15 %

Remote and mountainous areas 20 %

Especially difficult areas 25 %

(See also Multi-grade Teaching Supplement).

LODP. Letter of Development Policy.

Lower primary school. [History]. Grades 1-3.

(Compare with Upper primary school, Elementary

school).

Lower secondary school. Grades 6 - 9. (See also

Matanyom. Compare with Upper Secondary

School. See Annex Figure 1).

Historical Note: Prior to the 2009/10 school year,

lower secondary school comprised a three year

program, grades 6 – 8, thus part of an 11 year

school system, now a 12 year system. (See

Historical Note to M5-M7).

LPB. Luangprabang [Province].

LPF. [History]. Lao Patriotic Front. Lao: Neo Lao

Hak Xat. Replaced in 1979 by the LFNC.

LPP. [History]. Lao People’s Party. (See LPRP).

LPRP. Lao People’s Revolutionary Party.

(Commonly known simply as “the Party”).

Established 1955 as LPP. Renamed at 2nd Party

Congress, 1972.

LPRYU. Lao Peoples’ Revolutionary Youth Union.

(See also LYU). Mass organization for youth (age

range 15-30 years).

LQA. Local Qualified Assistant.

LRC. Literacy Resource Centers for Girls and

Women. (Japanese program for assisting NGOs in

developing literacy resource centers for girls and

women).

LRF. Lao Rugby Federation.

LRHS. Lao Reproductive Health Survey. (1994,

2000, 2005).

LRM. Lao PDR Resident Mission [of the ADB].

LRPPCC. Lao Revolutionary Party Political Central

Committee. (See also PCC, LPRP).

LS. Lower Secondary [Education]. (See LSE).

LSB. Lao Statistics Bureau. (Previously NSC;

DOS).

LSBC. Lao-Singapore Business College.

(Vientiane).

LSDA. Life Skills Development Association. (Lao

NPA, definition 2).

LSE. Lower secondary education. (Grades 6 – 9

since 2009/10). (Compare with USE).

LSIS. Lao Social Indicator Survey. (See also LECS;

MICS). (1993, 2011/12).

Note: LSIS 2011/12 is a household survey using

the technical frameworks of the MICS and DHS.

LSS. Lower secondary school. (Compare with USS.

Also see LSE).

LSSG. Lower Secondary Student Grant.

LSSGP. Lower Secondary Student Grants Program.

LSTC. 1. Life Skills Training Center. 2. Lao-

Singapore Training Center (Vientiane, Km 4,

Thadeua Road).

LSTE. Lower Secondary Teacher Education.

LTP. Long-term Priority. (Compare with MTP,

STP).

LTPU. Lao Textbook Publishing Unit. (See EPE).

LTTI. [History]. Laotian Teacher Training Institute.

(At Dong Dok). (Also known as ESP; NEC

definition 2).

LTUF. Lao Trade Union Federation. (Also LFTU).

LUSEA. Lao Union of Science and Engineering.

Lux-Development. Luxembourg Agency for

Development Cooperation.

LUXOP. Lao UXO Program. (See also UXO).

LVS. Lao Volunteer Service. (Financed by CUSO;

see also HJA).

LWAN. Lao Women’s Association Network.

LWF. Learn without Fear. (Social movement).

LWTC. Lao Women’s [Vocational] Training Center.

LWU. Lao Women’s Union.

Lycée. [History]. French: Lyceum. In the Lao

(French) terminology of the colonial and post-

colonial periods, upper secondary level institution

leading to the baccalauréat. Sometimes a

combined lower secondary and upper secondary

institution was also referred to as a Lycée. (See

also Collège, French Colonial Period).

LYU. Lao Youth Union. (Formally LPRYU).


31

M

M&E. Monitoring and Evaluation.

M1-M4. Lao: Matanyom 1-4. Secondary grades 1-4.

(Grades 6-9; Lower secondary). (See Matanyom).

(Compare with P1-P5). (See Historical Note to

M5-M7).

M5-M7. Lao: Matanyom 5-7. Secondary grades 5-7.

(Grades 10-12; Upper secondary). (See

Matanyom). (Compare with P1-P5).

Historical Note: As a consequence of the NESR,

M4 became part of LS beginning in SY 2009/10,

but there were no students in M7 until 2010/11.

MAF. 1. Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

2. MDG Acceleration Framework.

MAG. Mines Advisory Group. (INGO).

Maha. Lao: Title for a person highly educated in the

Buddhist temple but who has left the monastic

order. (Compare with Ajan).

Mahout. From Sanskrit, not used in the Lao

language: Elephant handler.

MAIP. Multi-Annual Indicative Program. (Also

MIP) (EC).

Mass Organization. Lao mass organizations, under

the leadership of the Party, include the Lao Federa-

tion of Military Veterans, the Lao Federation of

Trade Unions, the Lao Women’s Union, and the

Lao [People’s Revolutionary] Youth Union. (See

also LFNC).

Note: Article 10 of the Amended Lao Constitution

of 2003 specifically distinguishes Party and state

organizations, the Lao Front for National Con-

struction, mass organizations, and social organiza-

tions, all of which are bound by the Constitution

and laws.

Matanyom. Lao: Secondary school grades, including

both lower secondary (Matanyom ton) and upper

secondary (Matanyom pai). (See M1-4, M5-7).

(Compare with Pathom).

MBA. Master of Business Administration.

MCA. Maximum Country Allocation. (GPE; see

also NPF).

MCC. Mennonite Central Committee. (NGO, USA,

Canada).

MCH. Mother and Child Health.

MCTPC. [Formerly]. Ministry of Communication,

Transport, Post, and Construction. (Now see MPT

and MPWT).

MDA. Mid-Decade Assessment [of progress toward

EFA goals].

MDGs[s]. Millennium Development Goal[s]. (See

also MLG, SDG). (Continued)

Note: Of the eight goals set, two have special

relevance to the education sector:

MDG2: Ensure that by 2015 children every-

where, boys and girls alike, will be able to

complete a full course of primary schooling;

MDG3: Eliminate gender disparity in primary

and secondary education, preferably by 2005,

and in all levels of education no later than 2015.

Note: For a complete listing of the Lao national

goals, indicators, and targets for the education

sector, see Annex Table 5.

Historical Note: Established following the

adoption of the United Nations Millennium

Declaration at the UN Millennium Summit in

September 2000 and subsequently “nationalized”

to reflect the particular situation in each country.

MDGR. MDG Report.

MDRD. Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction into

Development.

MDTF. Multi-Donor Trust Fund.

MEC. Mekong English Center. (Private, Luang

Prabang).

MEFL. Marubeni Education Foundation in Laos.

(Corporate foundation, Japan).

Mekong Sub-Region. Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar,

Thailand, Vietnam.

Meo. [History]. Term used by the government of the

United States during the Vietnam war to refer to

the Hmong Iu-Mien ethno-linguistic groups living

in Laos and Vietnam. Considered derogatory by

many Hmong people (See Ethnicity).

MES. Ministry of Education and Sports. (Also

MOES).

MESRA. [History]. Ministry of Education, Sports,

and Religious Affairs.

Meuang. See Muang.

MfDR. Managing for Development Results. (WB;

see also SRF).

MGt[T]. Multi-grade [teaching]. (See Multi-grade

classroom; Multi-grade school; Multi-grade

teaching).

MIC. See MOIC.

MICS. Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey. (See also

LECS, LSIS).

MICS 2005/06

MICS/DHS/LSIS 2011/12

MICT. Ministry of Information, Culture, and

Tourism. (Also MOICT).

Midline Assessment. Assessment during an inter-

vention. (Compare with Baseline Assessment,

Endline Assessment).


32

MIH. [Formerly]. Ministry of Industry and Handi-

craft. (Now see DIH, MOIC).

Minsai. Japanese NGO. (See EDF).

MIP. 1. Multi-annual Indicative Program.

2. Multiple –Indicative Program. (Also MAIP)

(EC). 3. Multi-Indicative Program.

MIS. 1. Management Information System. (See

CMIS, EMIS, FMIS, HEMIS, PMIS).

2. Monitoring Information System.

MJIIT. Malaysia-Japan International Institute of

Technology.

MLE. Multi-lingual education. Specialists often

distinguish between “Weak MLE”: 2 years of

mother tongue instruction prior to transition to

national language, and “Strong MLE”: At least 5

years of mother tongue instruction prior to

transition to national language.

MLG. Millennium Learning Goal. (See MDG).

MLL. Minimum Level of Learning.

MLLT. Methods of Lao Language Teaching.

MLSW. See MOLSW.

MOA. Memorandum of Agreement.

MOAF. Ministry of Agriculture & Forestry.

MOE. [History]. Ministry of Education. (Renamed

MOES in September, 2011, after merger with the

LNSC).

Historical Note: Over the years, before and after

the Revolution in 1975, the ministry responsible

for education has had many different names,

including:

Ministry of Education, Sport, and Youth;

Ministry of Education;

Ministry of Education and Sports;

Ministry of Education, Art, and Pioneer Sports;

Ministry of Education, Sport, and Religious

Affairs;

Ministry of National Education; and

Ministry of National Education and Fine Arts.

MOES. Ministry of Education and Sports.

Historical Note: (Was MOES, renamed to MOE in

April, 1993; merged with the the National Sports

Committee in September, 2011 and renamed

MOES. (Also MES. See MOE, Historical Note).

MOET. [In Vietnam]. Ministry of Education and

Training.

MOF. Ministry of Finance.

MOFA. Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

MOH. Ministry of Health.

MOHA. Ministry of Home Affairs. (Formerly

PACSA)

MOI. Module of Instruction.

MOIC. 1. Ministry of Industry and Commerce.

2. [History]. Ministry of Information and Culture.

(See MICT; MOICT).

MOICT. Ministry of Information, Culture, and

Tourism. (Also MICT).

MOJ. Ministry of Justice.

MOLSW. Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare.

Also MLSW.

Monastic College. Sangha College. (See Sangha

College, Champasak; Sangha College, Vientiane).

MONRE. Ministry of Natural Resources and

Environment.

Montagnard[s]. French: Literally “mountain

dweller[s]”, referring during the French Colonial

Period generally to ethnic communities in the

upland and mountainous areas of Laos and

Vietnam; during the Vietnam War (American War)

referring in the American literature more

specifically but not exclusively to the Hmong

communities. (Compare with Meo).

MOOC. Massive Open Online Course.

MOODLE. Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic

Learning Environment.

MOPH. [Formerly] Ministry of Public Health. See

MOH.

MOPI. Ministry of Planning and Investment. Also

MPI. (Replaced CPI). (Also MPI).

MOPS. Ministry of Public Security.

MOPWT. Ministry of Public Works and Transport.

Also MPWT.

MOS. Microsoft Office Specialist. (Certification

program for using the Microsoft Office suite of

business applications).

MOST. Ministry of Science and Technology.

MOU. Memorandum of Understanding.

Mouvement de Jeunesse. [History]. French: Youth

Movement.

MPDF. Mekong Project Development Facility.

MPI. Ministry of Planning and Investment. Also

MOPI. (Replaced CPI).

MPIC. [History]. Ministry of Propaganda,

Information, and Culture. (Renamed MOIC).

MPT. Ministry of Post and Telecommunications.

MPWT. Ministry of Public Works and Transport.

(Formerly MCTPC).

MRA. Mutual Recognition Arrangement. (Inter-

national agreements for managing migration

through mutual recognition of standards in selected

occupational categories.)


33

MRC. Mekong River Commission.

MRE. Mine Risk Education.

MRM. Midterm Review Mission.

MSHEI. Minimum Standards for Higher Education

Institutions. (Adopted 2013).

MT. 1. Mobile Teacher. 2. Mother-tongue. (See

also L1, L2).

MTE. Midterm Evaluation. (See also MTR).

MTEF. Medium Term Expenditure Framework.

(See also E-MTEF).

MTP. 1. Mobile Teacher Program. 2. Modular

Training Package. 4. Medium-term Priority.

(Compare with LTP, STP).

MTPEP. Medium Term Provincial Education

[Development] Plan.

MTR. Mid-term Review. (See also MTE).

MTSPIP. [Financial Management] Medium Term

Strategy and Performance Improvement Plan.

Muad. Lao: A traditional cluster or sub-cluster of

incomplete “feeder schools” and a complete

school. A muad usually contains 3 - 5 schools

(school clusters are sometimes larger), usually

including only primary schools, but in some

communities including also include secondary

schools. (See Complete school; Groupe Scolaire;

School cluster; School network).

Muang. Lao: 1. Town, city, district. 2. [History].

Principality. (Also spelled Meuang).

Multi-grade classroom. Classroom in which

instruction is provided at two or more grade levels.

(Also “Mixed classes”).

Multi-grade school. School in which teaching is

conducted in multi-grade classrooms, usually in

sparsely populated areas, as a cost-effective

approach to providing complete primary level

instruction. (Compare with Complete school, In-

complete school, Shifting classes).

Multi-grade Teaching Supplement. Salary supple-

ment for teachers serving in multi-grade class-

rooms, determined as a percent of base salary, as

follows:

Two-grade classrooms 25 %

Three-grade classrooms 50 %

Note: The percent values of these supplements can

change over time. (See also Location

Supplement).

Multi-grade teaching. Instruction in the context of

two or more primary school grades in the same

classroom.

MWP. 1. Manual of Work Procedures. (Developed

originally with support from BEGP). 2. Master

Work Plan.

N

NA. 1. National Assembly. 2. Nutrition Advisor.

NADA. [Lao] National Data Archive. (Also

LNADA). (See DOS).

NAFC. Northern Agriculture and Forestry College.

(Under MOAF).

NAFRI. National Agriculture and Forestry Research

Institute. (Under MOAF).

Naiban. Lao: Village head.

NAPS. National Association of Private Schools.

NAR. 1. Net Attendance Ratio. 2. Net Admission

Rate. Note: UIS does not define this term. When

this term is written, Net Intake Rate (NIR) is

probably meant, but see Note to Adjusted Net

Attendance Ratio.

NAST. National Authority for Science and

Technology. (Under the PMO, definition 1).

Natasin School. Lao: School of Dramatic Arts;

School of Music and Drama. (Under MOICT;

Compare with Silapa School).

NatCom. National Commission [for UNESCO].

Also UNC.

National Day. December 2, when the proclamation

of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic in 1975

is celebrated. (Sometimes referred to in official

documents as Independence Day).

Nayobai. Lao: Literally “Policy”, often used to refer

to the policy of granting special rights or exemp-

tions to specific individuals or groups, for example

the policy of exempting children of teachers from

sitting for admission exams for teacher training or

the “affirmative action” policy for admission of

children from remote ethnic communities or

children of national heroes to education programs.

NBTS. National Baseline Tracer Study.

NCA. Norwegian Church Aid. (NGO, Norway).

NCAW. National Commission for the Advancement

of Women.

NCB. National Competitive Bidding. (Compare

with DP, ICB, IS, LCB).

NCDP. National Committee for Disabled People.

NCEA. National Conference of Education

Administrators.

NCEFA. National Commission for EFA. (See Note

to NEFAC).

NCER. National Commission for Education Reform.

NCESR. National Commission for Education

System Reform. (See NCER; NCNESR).

NCMC. National Commission for Mothers and

Children. (See also PCMC).


34

NCNESR. National Commission for National

Education System Reform. (See NESR; NESRC;

NESRS; NCER).

NCP. New Colombo Plan. (Australian Government

higher education exchange program). (See also

Colombo Plan).

NCRE. See NCER.

NCSEZ. National Committee for Special [and

Specific] Economic Zones. (See also SEZ, SSEZ,

S-NCSEZ).

NCT. Newly certified teacher.

NCTC. National Charter of Teacher Competencies.

(See also CNTC, CNC, NTC).

NCTS. National Council for TVET and SD.

Replaced NTC December 2009. (See also

NVCLSDC).

NDF. National Development Framework.

NDMC. National Disaster Management Committee.

NDMO. National Disaster Management Office.

NEC. 1. [Annual] National Education Conference

(typically held in July each year for planning and

preparation of the coming school year).

2. [History]. National Education Center. (Name

applied by USAID in the 1960s for École

Supérieure de Pédagogie and other educational

institutions developed in the 1960s and early 1970s

at Dong Dok, some 10 km north of Vientiane).

NEDC. See NFEDC.

NEFAC. National EFA Commission. (Also

NCEFA).

Note: The National EFA Commission is referenced

by several different abbreviations in the literature,

but the Prime Minister’s Decree No. 68/PM, 24

March 2005 establishes the “National Education

for All Commission”.

NEM. [History]. New Economic Mechanism.

(Endorsed in November 1986 by the 4th Party

Congress and launching the transition to a market

economy).

Neo Lao Hak Xat. See LPF.

Neo Lao Sang Xat. See LFNC.

NEQAF. National Education Quality Assurance

Framework.

NEQMAP. Network on Education Quality

Monitoring in the Asia-Pacific. (UNESCO

Bangkok; ESQAC is the Lao member).

NEQSf[F]. National Education Quality Standards

[Framework].

NER. Net Enrollment Rate. (Compare with GER,

ASER).

NERA. Adjusted Net Enrollment Rate. (Also

ANER. Compare with ASER, GER, NER).

NERI. National Economics Research Institute.

(Under MPI).

Historical note: Established 1997 under CPI.

NESE. National Excellent Student Examination.

NESQAC. 1. [Formerly] National Education

Standard and Quality Accreditation Commission.

2. [Formerly] National Education Standard and

Quality Assurance Center. (See ESQAC)

NESR. National Education System Reform (2006-

2015). (MOE, 2006). (See NCNESR; NESRS;

see also Historical Note to M5-M7).

NESRC. National Education System Reform

Committee. (See NESR; NESRS; NCER).

NESRS. National Education System Reform

Strategy [Phase I: 2006-2010, Phase II: 2010-

2015]. (MOE, April 2008). (See NCNESR;

NESRC; NESR).

Historical Note: An early draft of the NESRS was

circulated in 2006, and a later draft was circulated

in 2007. The final English version is dated April

2008, but the official Lao version is dated August

2008. In English language documents, NESRS is

commonly cited as either 2006, 2007, or 2008.

Net Attendance Ratio. Note: UIS does not define

this statistic (see NER and NERA), but it is used in

household sample surveys (such as MICS), which

do not access school records. There it is defined as

the percentage of children of the official primary

or secondary school age who are attending primary

or secondary school, respectively, during the

survey.

Net Enrollment Rate. (NER). UIS Definition:

Enrolment of the official age group for a given

level of education expressed as a percentage of the

corresponding population. (Compare with Gross

Enrollment Ratio, Age-Specific Enrollment Rate).

Net Intake Rate. (NIR). UIS Definition: Total

number of new entrants in the 1st grade of primary

education who are of the official primary school-

entrance age, expressed as a percentage of the

population of the same age. (Compare with AIR,

GIR).

NEU. National Economics University [of Vietnam]

(in cooperative program with NUOL to provide

MBA degrees in Laos).

NFE. Non-formal education.

NFEC. Non-formal Education Center.

NFED. (See also DNFE).

NFEDC. Non-formal Education Development

Center. (Vientiane, at Km 8).


35

NFUAJ. National Federation of UNESCO

Associations in Japan. (NGO, Japan).

NGO. Non-governmental organization. (See also

INGO; NPO).

NGPES. National Growth and Poverty Eradication

Strategy. (Published June 2004. Early drafts

referred to as PRSP; NPEP).

NGPES-Ed. National Growth and Poverty

Eradication Strategy, Part IV, Chapter 2: Poverty-

focused Education Development Action Plan

Priorities. (Early drafts referred to NPEP-Ed).

(See NGPES).

NIEQA. National Institute for Education Quality

Assessment.

NIPV. [History]. National Institute of Pedagogy in

Vientiane. See IUP; ESP; HIPV; NEC definition

2; VPU; PUV. Merged into NUOL in 1996).

NIR. Net Intake Rate. (Compare with AIR, GIR).

NIT. National Implementation Team. (Compare

with DIT definition 1, PIT definition 1).

NL. National Library.

NLHS. Also NLHX. Lao: Neo Lao Hak Sat. See

LPF.

NLHX. Also NLHS. Lao: Neo Lao Hak Xat. See

LPF.

NLPG. National Language Processing Group.

(Under ITC).

NLSX. Lao: Neo Lao Sang Xat. See LFNC.

NOCL. National Olympic Committee of Laos.

Historical Note: Created 1975, recognized 1979.

Laos first participated in the Olympics 1980.

NOL. “No objections” Letter.

Non-basic education. [Sub-sectors in EFA context].

Upper secondary, vocational and technical, and

higher education. (Compare with Basic education.

See also PBE).

NORAD. Norwegian Agency for Development

Cooperation.

Normal school. [History]. Following contemporary

American terminology, “normal school” referred

to a teacher education institution below university

level. (In USAID support to RLG and PGNU).

NORRAG. Network for International Policies and

Cooperation in Education and Training. (Formerly

“Northern Research Review and Advisory

Group”).

Northern Region. Phongsaly, Luang Namtha,

Oudamxay, Bokeo, Luang Phrabang, Houphanh,

Xayabury. (See also Central Region; Southern

Region; Special Region).

NOSPA. National Organization for the Study of

Policy and Administration.

NP / P / PP. Non-poor / Poor / Poorest. (Poverty

classification of districts established in NGPES).

NPA. 1. National Plan of Action. (See especially

EFA-NPA, NSPAIE). 2. Not-for-profit

association. (See also CSO).

NPD. National Project Director.

NPDP. National Population and Development

Policy.

NPE. National Project Engineer. (EQIP II).

NPEP. [Lao PDR] National Poverty Eradication

Plan. (Earlier referred to as PRSP, later renamed

NGPES; see also NPEP-Ed).

NPEP-Ed. [Lao PDR] National Poverty Eradication

Plan – Education Sector. (See NGPES-Ed).

NPF. Needs and Performance Framework.

(Allocation formula for GPE. Note that in 2014

the “performance” part was removed, and the

revised allocation formula, sometimes referred to

as the “revised NPF”, was based solely on need.

See also MCA.)

NPHECD. National Policy for Holistic Early

Childhood Development.

NPI. National Polytechnic Institute. (Founded 1984,

merged in 1995 into NUOL, Faculty of

Engineering and Architecture. Not to be confused

with Polytechnic College located nearby). (See

FOE, definition 2; FOAR).

NPIE. National Policy on Inclusive Education.

NPO. Non-profit organization; Not-for-profit

organization. (See NPA).

NPRS. National Poverty Reduction Strategy.

NPV. Net Present Value.

NQF. National Qualifications Framework. Also

NVQF, LNVQF, VQF. (Compare with RQF).

NRC. 1. National Research Center. (NUOL).

2. National Rehabilitation Center.

NREN. National Research and Education Network.

NRIES. [Formerly]. National Research Institute for

Educational Sciences. [Re-organized in 2007 as a

department-level unit within MOE]. (See RIES).

NSAW. National Strategy for the Advancement of

Women.

NSC. 1. Natural Science Center. (Within RIES).

2. [Formerly]. National Statistics Center.

(Renamed DOS, now LSB).

NSDF. National Skills Development Fund.

(Managed by MOLSW).

NSDW. National Strategy for the Development of

Women. (1998-2005, 2005-2010).


36

NSEDP. National Socio-Economic Development

Plan. (Also Five-Year Plan; endorsed by the Party

Congress, designed to implement the resolution of

the Congress, and approved by the National

Assembly).

1st Plan, 1981-1985;

2nd Plan, 1986-1990;

3rd Plan, 1991-1995 (Delayed implementation);

4th Plan, 1996-2000;

5th Plan, 2001-2005, 2001-2010, 2001-2020;

6th Plan, 2006-2010;

7th Plan, 2011-2015;

8th Plan, 2016-2020 (in preparation)

Note: The abbreviations often include the Plan

number, e.g. NSEDP7 or 7NSEDP for the 7th Plan.

NSEEA. National Strategy on Environmental

Education and Awareness.

NSMP. National School Meals Program. (See also

SMP).

NSPAIE. National Strategy and Plan of Action on

Inclusive Education 2011-2015. (Pub. MOES,

2011).

NT II. Nam Theun 2 [Hydropower Project]. (Also

NT2).

NT2. Nam Theun 2 [Hydropower Project]. (Also

NT II).

NTC. 1. National Teacher Competencies. (See also

CNC; CNTC). 2. National Training Council.

(Replaced by NCTS December 2009). (Compare

with RTC). 3. [HRD] National Technical

Committee. (Chaired by the Minister of Education

and Sports, with high-level representation from

other ministries and national organizations).

(Compare with HRDNC).

NTC-PO. National Training Council Permanent

Office.

NTEAB. National Teacher Education Advisory

Board.

NTEP. National Teacher Education Plan. (Earlier

named NTTP, developed with support of TTEST.

Led to TES and TESAP).

NTNA. National Training Needs Analysis.

(Conducted under HRD-ME support).

NTPC. Nam Theun2 Power Company Ltd.

NTTP. National Teacher Training Plan. Renamed

NTEP (developed under TTEST support), renamed

TESAP.

NTU. 1. Network for Teacher Upgrading.

2. Nanyang Technological University. (Singapore).

NTUC. 1. Network for Teachers Upgrading Centers.

(See also TUC). 2. [Formerly] National Teacher

Upgrading Center.

NTUP. 1. Network for Teacher Upgrading Program.

(See also TUP). 2. 2. [Formerly] National

Teacher Upgrading Program.

NUOL PS. The National University of Laos

Provincial Scholarship.

NUOL. National University of Lao PDR. (See

Annex Table 2).

Historical Note: NUOL was established in 1995

and opened in 1996 following the merger of ten

higher education institutions, namely:

University of Pedagogy (Dong Dok), also

known as Vientiane Teacher Training College;

Polytechnic University, also known as the

National Polytechnic Institute (Vientiane);

University of Health Sciences, also known as

the College of Medical Sciences (Vientiane);

College of Agriculture (Nabong);

College of Forestry (Dong Dok);

School of Irrigation (Tad Thong);

School of Architecture (Vientiane);

School of Communication and Transport

(Vientiane);

Lao-German School of Electronics, also known

as the College of Electronics and Electro-

technology (Vientiane), and

Veunkham Agriculture Center.

NURBIDS. National Urban-Rural Basic Infra-

structure Development Strategy.

NUS. National University of Singapore.

NVCLSDC. National Vocational Consulting and

Labor Skill Development Council. (See NCTS).

NVCSDC. National Vocational Consulting and

Skills Development Committee.

NVQF. National Vocational Qualifications

Framework. Also LNVQF, NQF, VQF. (See

detail in VQF).

NZAID. New Zealand International Aid and

Development Agency.

NZAP. New Zealand Aid Program.

O

O&M. Operation and Maintenance.

OA. Operating Account. (WB). (See also DA).

OC. Operating Committee.

ODA. Official Development Assistance.

Note: Includes assistance from both bilateral

donors and multilateral institutions.

ODL. Open and distance learning.


37

ODOP. One district, one product. (Compare with

OVOP).

ODX. Oudomxay Province. (Also UDX).

OECD. Organization for Economic Cooperation and

Development.

OEM. Operations Evaluation Mission. (ADB).

OffJT. Off-the-job training. (Compare with OJT).

OIC. 1. Officer in Charge. 2. Organizational

Improvement Committee. (MOE).

OIF. French: Organisation Internationale de la

Francophonie. International Organization of the

French-speaking World.

Historical Note: Laos became a member of OIF in

1991.

OJT. On-the-job training. (Compare with OffJT,

Practicum).

OM. Operations Manual. (See also POM).

OMI. [History]. Oblate of Mary Immaculate.

Historical Note: Missionary religious congregation

in the Catholic Church, active in Laos from 1956

to 1974, building churches, orphanages, and

schools.

OOPP. Objectives-Oriented Project Planning. (See

also ZOPP).

OP. Operation Permit. (Also referred to as Operat-

ing Permit or Operational Permit, but the

document issued to an NGO by MOFA is titled

“Operation Permit”).

Open learning. Learning programs which can be

interrupted at any time, in which credits or learning

units can be accumulated to bridge the gap

between courses at a given qualification level.

ORAF. Operational Risk Assessment Framework.

OSOP. One School, One Project.

Oudom. Upper secondary school grades. (Also

Matanyom pai). (See M5-7). (Compare with

Pathom).

OVI. Objectively Verifiable Indicator. (Used

especially in LFA; see also SOV).

OVOP. One village, one product. (Compare with

ODOP).

OxAus. Oxfam Australia. (NGO, Australia).

P

P. See NP / P / PP.

P1-P3. [History]. Primary, 1st Cycle, grades 1-3.

(See also P4-P6).

P1-P5. Primary grades 1-5. (See Pathom). (Also

G1-G5). (Compare with M1-M4, M5-M7).

P4-P6. [History]. Primary, 2nd Cycle, grades 4-6.

(See also P1-P3).

PA. 1. Pedagogical Advisor [based at District Educa-

tion Bureaus and responsible for monitoring,

supervising, and supporting primary school

instruction]. (See also PPA, SPA). 2. Professional

Assistant [based at TEIs and responsible for

development of teacher trainers]. 3. Provincial

[bank] account.

PACSA. [Formerly]. Public Administration and

Civil Service Authority. (Now see MOHA).

PAD. 1. Project Appraisal Document (WB).

2. [Formerly]. Policy Analysis Division.

(Renamed SREAC).

PADETC. Participatory Development Training

Center.

PAF. Performance Assessment Framework.

(Compare with PAM, definition 2).

Pagoda. See Wat.

Pali. Liturgical language of Theravada Buddhism.

Written in the Tham script.

Pali Institute. See Sangha College, Vientiane.

Pali School. Schools providing monastic education,

including the Buddhist Dhamma (doctrine, teach-

ings of the Buddha) and the Pali language, with

teaching at primary, secondary, and tertiary level.

Historical Note: Before the French Colonial

Period, the wat served as the center of culture and

learning. During the colonial period the temple

schools, especially in the rural villages, began to

teach school-age boys not only the traditional

religious curriculum but also secular subjects

reading, writing, and arithmetic. With the spread

of state-based secular schooling, enrollments in the

Pali schools declined, especially after the intro-

duction of compulsory schooling. (Not to be

confused with the secular functions of Temple

schools and Wat schools).

Palm leaf manuscript. [History]. Documents,

mainly Buddhist religious texts, written on palm

leaves, among the first writing materials used in

Southeast Asia.

PAM. 1. Project Administration Manual. (ADB).

2. Policy Action Matrix (e.g., in PAF).

PAME. Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation.

PAP. Project Affected Persons.

PAR. Participatory action research.

Paris Declaration [on Aid Effectiveness].

Declaration signed at high level conference in


38

Paris, March 2, 2005. (See also Vientiane

Declaration on Aid Effectiveness). Main features

included:

Ownership: Developing countries set their own

strategies for poverty reduction, improve their

institutions and tackle corruption;

Alignment: Donor countries align behind these

objectives and use local systems in their support

programs;

Harmonization: Donor countries coordinate,

their programs, simplify procedures and share

information to avoid duplication;

Results: Developing countries and donors shift

focus to development results and results get

measured; and

Mutual accountability: Donors and partners are

accountable for development results.

Pariyatti. Pali: Intellectual or theoretical understand-

ing of the teachings of the Buddha.

Party Congress. Key decision-making forum. Since

1986 held every five years and endorsing the Five-

Year Plan (FYP, formally NSEDP) for the coming

period:

1st Congress March 22, 1955

2nd Congress February 1972

3rd Congress April 27-30, 1982 1st FYP

4th Congress Nov. 13-15, 1986 2nd FYP

5th Congress March 27-29, 1991 3rd FYP

6th Congress March 18-20, 1996 4th FYP




10th Congress March 2016 (in preparation)

Party, The. See LPRP.

PASEC. French: Programme d’Analyse des Systèmes

Éducatifs de la CONFEMEN. Program on the

Analysis of Education Systems of CONFEMEN.

Pasopkane Teacher. Lao: Experienced Teacher.

[Title, 4th Rank]. (See also Samnanekane Teacher;

Xiosane Teacher; Xiosane Avouso Teacher).

PATA. Policy and Advisory Technical Assistance.

(ADB).

Pathet Lao. [History]. Lao: Literally ‘Land of the

Lao [people]’. In the 1950s through 1975 it was

widely used in Western literature to denote the Lao

revolutionary movement as a whole.

Pathom. Lao: Primary school grades. (See P1-P5;

compare with Matanyom).

Paxaxon teacher. Lao. People’s Teacher.

(Honorific title for teacher selected at provincial

level). Compare with Haeng Xad Teacher.

Payment Course. See Special Course.

PBA. 1. Program Based Approach. 2. Performance

Based Allocation (ADB).

PBC. Planning and Budgeting Committee.

PBE. Post-Basic Education.

PBL. 1. Project Based Learning. 2. Problem Based

Learning.

PC. [Historical]. Price Comparison.

PCA. 1. Procurement Capacity Assessment (WB).

2. Program Cooperation Agreement.

PCC. Party Central Committee. (See also

LRPPCC).

PCD. 1. Project Coordination Division

(MOES/DPC). 2. Procurement Concept Document

(WB).

PCF. Pestalozzi Children’s Foundation. (NGO,

Switzerland).

PCK. Pedagogical Content Knowledge. (Compare

with PK, SMK).

PCM. 1. Provincial Coordination Meeting.

2. Provincial Coordinating Mechanism. 3. Project

Cycle Management.

PCMC. Provincial Commission for Mothers and

Children. (See also NCMC).

PCN. Project Concept Note.

PCR. 1. Project Completion Report. (ADB). (WB,

renamed ICR). (Compare with TCR). 2. Primary

Completion Rate. (Note: UIS does not define a

Primary Completion Rate. See Cohort Completion

Rate.)

PCSS. Procurement Contract Summary Sheet.

(ADB). (See also PCUS).

PCU. Project Coordination Unit. (See also PID,

definition 3; PIU).

PCUS. Procurement Contract Update Sheet. (ADB).

(See also PCSS).

PD. 1. Professional development. 2. Paris

Declaration. (Compare with VD).

PDA. Professional Development Assistants.

PDC. 1. Professional Development Coordination.

2. Professional Development Coordinator.

PDD. 1. Project Design Document. 2. Program

Design Document.

PDM. Project design matrix.

PDN. Professional Development Network.

PDO. 1. Program Development Operations. (WB).

2. Project Development Objective.

PDP. 1. Professional Development Program.

2. Professional Development Plan.

PDR. People’s Democratic Republic.


39

PDS. Project Data Sheet. (ADB).

PDU. Professional Development Unit.

PE. 1. Primary Education. 2. Physical Education.

PEcc[C]C. [Formerly]. Private Education [Con-

sultative] Council. (Renamed PEACO).

PEA. 1. Private Education Association. 2. Project

Executing Agency. (Compare with PIA).

3. Provincial Education Allocation.

PEACO. Private Education Advisory Council

Office.

PEFA. Public Expenditure and Financial

Accountability.

PEM. Public Expenditure Management.

PEMSP. [Formerly]. Public Expenditure Manage-

ment Strengthening Program. (Renamed PFMSP).

PEO. [History]. Provincial Education Officer.

PEP. Public Expenditure Plan.

PEQS. Primary Education Quality Standards.

PER. Public Expenditure Review.

Permanent teacher. A teacher (regardless of qualifi-

cations) permanently assigned to a given school.

(Not to be confused with Quota teacher).

(Compare with Temporary teacher).

PERP. [History]. Post-secondary Education

Rationalization Project. (Also PSERP. 1995-

2003. External financing by ADB. Led to the

establishment of NUOL).

PES. [History]. Provincial Education Services.

(Renamed PESS in 2010). (See also CES).

PESL. Primary Education Support for Laos.

(External financing by French Cooperation).

PESS. Provincial Education and Sports Services.

(Formerly PES). (See Annex Table 1).

PET. Project Evaluation Team.

PETS. Public Expenditure Tracking Survey.

Peuan Mit. Lao: Friends. (See FI).

PFM. Public financial management.

PFMSP. Public Financial Management Strengthen-

ing Program. (External financing by WB;

formerly PEMSP).

PFS. Provincial Financial Services.

PGNU. [History]. Provisional Government of

National Union. (Official title of the 2nd and 3rd

Coalition Governments, 1962-1963, 1973-1975).

Phagna. [History]. Lao: Honorary title of nobility,

usually granted in recognition of military or civil

service to the state.

Phi. Lao: Spirit; an incorporeal being, as in “spirit

world”.

Phra Sangkharat. Lao: Chief Abbot of the Lao

Buddhist Sangha.

PI. Plan International. (INGO).

PIA. Project Implementing Agency. (Compare with

PEA, definition 2).

PIAAC. Program for the International Assessment of

Adult Competencies. (OECD. Compare with

PISA).

PIC. Pubic Information Center. (World Bank

Office, Vientiane).

PID. 1. Project Information Document (WB).

2. Program Information Document (WB).

3. Project Implementation Division. (See also

PCU, PIU). 4. Project implementation design.

Pillar. See Three Pillars; Four Pillars of Education.

PIM. Project Implementation Manual.

Pioneers[s]. See Young Pioneers.

PIP. 1. Public Investment Program. 2. Project

Implementation Plan.

PIR. Project Implementation Report.

PIS. Panyathip International School. (Private,

Vientiane).

PISA. Program for International Student

Assessment. (OECD. Compare with IEA,

PIAAC).

PIT. 1. Provincial Implementation Team. (Compare

with DIT definition 1, NIT) 2. Provincial

Inclusive Education Trainer.

Pitaka. Pali: [literally “Basket”, hence collection of]

Buddhist teachings. (See also Tipitaka).

PIU. Project Implementation Unit. (See also PCU,

PID definition 2; PMU).

PK. Pedagogical Knowledge. (Compare with PCK,

SMK).

PL. Policy Letter (WB). (See also DPL).

PLA. Participatory Learning and Action.

Plan. Plan International Laos. (INGO)

Play group. Day care for pre-school children

organized by the community, typically with

support from NGOs. (Compare with Crèche, Pre-

school, Kindergarten. See Annex Figure 3).

PLC. Professional Learning Community.

PLD. Provincial Labor Department.

PM. 1. Progress map. 2. Policy matrix. 3. Person-

months. 4. Prime Minister.

PMD. Project Management Division. (MOES,

within DP, definition 3).

PMF. Performance Measurement Framework.


40

PMIS. Personnel Management Information System.

(Compare with CMIS, EMIS, FMIS, GIS).

PMO. 1. Prime Minister’s Office. 2. Project

Management Office.

PMR. Project Management Reporting.

PMU. Program Management Unit. (See also PIU).

PO. 1. Program Officer. 2. Permanent Office.

POA. Plan of Action.

Polytechnic Institute. Post-secondary, non-tertiary

vocational institution offering courses in many

fields.

POM. Project Operation Manual. (See also OM).

PoP. Pencils of Promise. (NGO, USA).

Post-Colonial Period. Historical Note: Period

between the end of the French Colonial Period and

the Revolution December 2, 1975. Different

writers refer to different periods: 1945-1975, 1949-

1975, or 1954-1975. (See French Colonial Period

for timeline. See also Semi-Royalist Period).

Power International. (NGO, UK).

PP. 1. Preparation Plan. 2. See NP / P / PP.

PPA. 1. Primary Pedagogical Advisor. (See also PA,

SPA). 2. Pupil-Parent Association. 3. Project

Preparation Advance. 4. Participatory Poverty

Assessment.

PPAR. Project Performance Audit Report. (ADB;

compare with TPAR).

PPD. Primary and Preschool Education Department.

(See DPPE).

PPE. 1. Provincial Project Engineer (EQIP II).

2. Pre-primary Education.

PPF. Project Preparation Facility (WB).

PPID. Provincial Planning and Investment

Department.

PPIU. Provincial Project Implementation Unit.

PPM. Policy Planning Matrix. (E.g., in ESDP).

PPP. 1. Purchasing Power Parity (also “ppp”).

2. Program, Policy, and Procedure. 3. Public-

Private Partnership.

PPPD. Public-Private Partnership Dialogue.

PPR. Project Performance Report (ADB).

PPS. Provincial Planning Service.

PPTA. Project Preparation Technical Assistance.

PR [by grade]. Promotion Rate [by grade].

PRA. Participatory Rural Appraisal.

Pratom. See Pathom.

Practicum. (TVET). Course in which theory is put

into practice in an actual workplace, e.g., in an

enterprise. (Compare with OJT).

PRC. 1. Provincial Rehabilitation Center.

2. People’s Republic of China.

Pre-ADS. Pre-Australian Development Scholarship.

PREI. Procurement Review for Effective Implemen-

tation. (ADB).

Pre-primary. Special pre-school classes to prepare

5-year-old children for Grade 1, particularly target-

ing non-Lao ethnic groups, girls, and children from

the poorest families who have not attended

kindergarten. (Also Grade 0; see Annex Figure 1

and Figure 3).

Pre-school. Services commonly for children aged

2 - 5 years, sometimes from 3 months. Comprises

crèche and kindergarten. (Compare with ECCD;

see Annex Figure 1 and Figure 3).

PRESET. Pre-service education and training. (See

also INSET and UPSET).

PRF. Poverty Reduction Fund.

PRGF. Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility

(WB).

Primary Completion Rate. (Note: UIS does not

define a Primary Completion Rate. See Cohort

Completion Rate.)

Primary school. Grades 1 - 5. (See also Pathom;

Appendix Figure 1).

PrMO. Procurement Monitoring Office. (MOF).

PROAP. Principal Regional Office for Asia and the

Pacific (UNESCO Bangkok).

ProCEEd. Promotion of Climate-related Environ-

mental Education. (Under MONRE, GIZ).

PRODOC. 1. Project Document. 2. Program

Document.

Promotion Rate [by grade]. (PR). UIS Definition:

Proportion of students from a cohort enrolled in a

given grade in a given school year who study in

the next grade in the following school year.

(Compare with SR, TR).

Proviseur. [History]. French: [School] Principal,

Director.

PRSC. Poverty Reduction Support Credit. (WB).

PRSO. Poverty Reduction Support Operation.

(Multi-sector budget support program led by WB

and with the participation of EC and others,

starting in 2007). (See also GBS, SBS).

PRSP. Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper. (WB).

(See also IPRSP, renamed NPEP by GOL, later

renamed NGPES).

PSC. 1. Project Steering Committee. 2. Population

Study Center. (NUOL).

PSE. Post-secondary education.


41

PSERP. [History]. Post-secondary Education

Rationalization Project. (Also PERP. 1995-2003.

External financing by ADB. Led to the

establishment of NUOL).

PSI. 1. Population Services International. (INGO).

2. [History]. Primary School Inspector.

PSIA. Poverty and Social Impact Analysis. (WB).

PSL. Phongsaly Province.

PSM. 1. Prospective School Map. 2. Provincial

Simulation Model.

PSQS. Primary School Quality Standards. (Based

on SOQ and replaced SOQ). (Compare with

SSQS).

Note: The PSQS instrument comprise 42 items

relating to the student, teaching and learning

methods, the school environment, management and

administration, and community participation, but it

does not include evidence about student learning

outcomes.

PSS. Pedagogical Support System.

PSSCM. Primary-Secondary School Cluster Model.

PSSP. Primary School Sanitation Program

(UNICEF).

PSSZ. Primary School Service Zone. (Created under

EQIP II, mechanism for managing student flow

within a region).

PSTE. Pre-school Teacher Education.

PSTTD. Pre-service Teacher Training Division. (In

DTE; compare with ISTTD).

PSU. Project Support Unit. (MOES, later subsumed

by DPC).

PTC. 1. Polytechnic College. 2. Propaganda &

Training Committee [of Central Committee].

PTCA. Parent-Teacher Community Association.

PTE. Primary Teacher Education.

PTI. Private Training Institution.

PTR. Pupil/Teacher Ratio.

PTS. Pakpasak Technical School. (Vientiane).

PTTC. Pakse Teacher Training College.

PUCA. Provincial Unit for Construction Assistance.

PUCDA. Provincial Unit for Construction and

Development Assistance. (See also DUCDA).

PUV. [History]. Pedagogical University, Vientiane.

(Also known as Institut Universitaire Pédagogie,

École Supérieure de Pédagogie, Vientiane Higher

Pedagogical Institute, Vientiane Teacher Training

College, College of Education, Vientiane Teacher

Training School, National School of Pedagogy,

National Institute of Pedagogy [Vientiane], and

Vientiane Pedagogical University). (See also IUP;

ESP; HIPV; NEC definition 2; NIPV; VPU.

Merged into NUOL in 1996).

PWD. Person(s) with disability (disabilities); People

with disabilities. (See also CWD).

PWG. Project Working Group.

PWMS. Pooled Weighted Mean Score.

Q

QA. Quality Assurance.

QAC. [Formerly]. Quality Assurance Center. (See

ESQAC).

QAG. Quality Assurance Group. (WB).

QAS. Quality Assurance System.

QBS. Quality-based Selection. (ADB, WB).

(Compare with QCBS).

QCBS. Quality- and Cost-based Selection. (ADB,

WB). (Compare with QBS).

QEEG. Quality [Basic] Education, Especially Girls

[Project]. (Supported by UNICEF).

QER. Quality Enhancement Review. (WB).

QES. Quality Education Standard. (See also SOQ,

PSQS).

QIP. Quality Improvement Plan.

QITEP. Quality Improvement of Teachers and

Education Personnel. (SEAMEO).

QMS. Quality management system.

QOP. [Historical]. Quotation of Price.

QPR. Quarterly Progress Report.

QSA. Quality of Supervision Assessment. (WB).

QSL. Quaker Service Laos. (NGO, USA). Program

of AFSC.

Qualified teacher. A teacher with current formal

teacher education qualifications for the level of

schooling at which he/she is teaching. (See Under-

qualified teacher; Unqualified teacher; Certified

teacher).

Quartile. See Quintile, definition 1, Note.

Quintile. 1. Each of 5 numerically equal groups into

which a population can be divided according to the

values of a particular variable. E.g. With test

scores, the 1st quintile would include the lowest 20

% of scores, and the 5th quintile would include the

highest 20 % of scores. Note that some writers

invert the scale, referring to top 20 % as the “1st

quintile”. Related terms include Quartile (4

groups), Decile (10 groups), etc. (Continued)


42

2. The cut-off value separating the groups; e.g., the

2nd quintile would be the score below which 2/5 of

the scores fall.

Quota teacher. A teacher employed as civil servant,

based on a “government quota” or long term salary

commitment established by the National Assembly

and the Ministry of Finance, and whose salary is

set by the Civil Service Commission. (See also

Contract teacher; Village teacher; Volunteer

teacher).

Note 1: The concept of Quota teacher should not

be confused with the concept of Qualified teacher,

since there exist quota teachers who are Under-

qualified or even Unqualified.

Note 2: In 2011/12 budget year the quota system

was abolished, and the needs were to be met from

the local level, based on direction from the district

and provincial development plans. In 2013/14,

however, a severe budget deficit compelled the

restoration of the quota system.

R

R&D. Research and Development.

Rank. (Of teachers). Title officially awarded on the

basis of merit in teaching and associated with

salary supplements:

Lao term Rank English term .

Xiosane Avouso 1st Senior Specialist;

Xiosane 2nd Specialist;

Samnanekane 3rd Skilled;

Pasopkane 4th Experienced. .

(Compare with Honorific Title).

Note: These categories are defined in the

Education Law of 2007.

RAS. Rapid Assessment Survey.

RBA. Rights-based Approach. (Compare with DDA,

HRBA).

RBAC. Rattana Business Administration College.

Vientiane.

RBM. Results-based management.

RCP. Regional Cooperation Platform. (Network of

universities involved in VTE in the ASEAN region

and China).

RDC. Research Development Committee. (NUOL).

RDMA. Regional Development Mission for Asia.

(Bangkok. USAID regional implementation

office).

RE. Recipient Executed. (WB).

RECSAM. Regional Center for Education in Science

and Mathematics. (SEAMEO, in Penang,

Malaysia).

Redd barna. Norwegian: Save the Children –

Norway. (See SC definition 1; SCF/N; SCN).

REF. Recurrent Education Fund. (Formerly SBG).

RELC. Regional Language Center (SEAMEO,

Singapore).

Repetition Rate (RR) [by grade]. UIS Definition:

Proportion of students from a cohort enrolled in a

given grade at a given school year who study in

the same grade in the following school year.

Results-based Sector Performance Monitoring and

Evaluation System. See RMES.

RETA. Regional Technical Assistance.

RETRAC. [SEAMEO] Regional Training Center.

(In Ho Chih Minh City).

Revision. The process of review or study, as for an

examination. (Chiefly British).

Revision notes. Study notes. (See Revision).

RICE. Returns Invested in Children and Education.

(ICO, Singapore).

RIES. Research Institute for Educational Sciences.

(MOES; see also NRIES).

RIHED. Regional Center for Higher Education and

Development (SEAMEO, in Bangkok).

(Sometimes incorrectly referred to as “Regional

Center for Higher Education Development”, i.e.,

missing the “and”).

RIP. Remote In-service Program.

RLG. [History]. Royal Lao Government. Replaced

by the Government of the Lao PDR December

1975.

RMA. Revenue Management Arrangements.

RMES. Results-Based [Sector Performance]

Monitoring and Evaluation System.

RMIT. Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.

RNI. Rate of Natural Increase [of the population].

ROK. Republic of Korea. (South Korea. Compare

with DPRK).

RPL. Recognition of Prior Learning. (See also

APEL; APL definition 2).

RPP. Reading Promotion Project.

RQ. Required qualification. (See also ARQ; BRQ).

RQA. Registry of Qualified Applicants.

RQF. Regional Qualification[s] Framework.

(ASEAN). (Compare with NQF).

RR. Repetition Rate [by grade].

RRP. Report and Recommendation of the President

[to the Board of Directors]. (ADB).


43

RTC. Regional Training Council. (Compare with

NTC).

RTF. Round Table Forum. (See also RTM).

RTIM. Round Table Implementation Meeting.

(Annual. See also RTM).

RTM. Round Table Meeting [of Government and

Development Partners]. (Every 4th year. See also

RTIM).

RTP. Round Table Process. (See also RTIM; RTM).

RtR. Room to Read [Laos]. (NGO, international).

RTTC. [History]. Rural Teacher Training College.

RVA. Recognition, validation, and accreditation.

RVT. Rural vocational training.

S

S&T. Science and Technology.

SA. 1. Special Account. 2. Social Assessment.

SAA. [Historical]. State Audit Authority.

SABER. 1. Systems Approach for Better Education

Results. 2. Systems Approach and Benchmarking

for Education Results.

Note: Even in official World Bank documents and

websites, these two different names appear.

SAC. Structural Adjustment Credit.

SAGP. School Access Grants Program. (Under

SESDP). (See also EDGP; SSSP).

Sala. Lao: An open place of shelter, rest, meditation,

and ceremonies, often associated with a Buddhist

temple (wat).

Salary supplement. See Location Supplement;

Multi-grade Teaching Supplement.

SALT [Volunteer]. Serving and Learning Together.

(Volunteer program of the MCC).

Sam Neua Province. [History]. Under the RLG

administration, the northeastern province, border-

ing on Vietnam, with capital city Sam Neua.

Under Pathet Lao administration, the capital city

was Viang Xai. After the Revolution, renamed

Huaphanh Province, with capital city Sam Neua.

(See also Wapikhamthong Province).

Sam sang. Lao: [literally] “Three Builds”. Capacity

development policy as introduced by the 9th Party

Congress (March 2011) and expressed in the 7th

NSEDP. (See also Boukthalu).

Samnanekane Teacher. Lao: Highly Experienced

Teacher. [Title, 3rd Rank]. (See also Pasopkane

Teacher; Xiosane Teacher; Xiosane Avouso

Teacher).

San kang. (Also Sankang). Lao: Upper certificate

level vocational and technical program (3-year

program after completion of lower secondary

schooling). (Compare with San sung, San ton).

San sung. (Also Sansung). Lao: Higher diploma or

degree level technical and professional program

(typically 4-year program at polytechnic institute

or university after completion of upper secondary

schooling). (Compare with San kang, San ton).

San ton. (Also Santon, Santong). 1. Lao: Lower

certificate level vocational program; 1- or 2-year

vocational program after completion of lower

secondary schooling; can also be operated in

vocational centers, upper secondary general and

TVET schools, TVET colleges, and enterprises).

2. [Formerly]. 3-year program after completion of

primary schooling, now phased out. (Compare

with San kang, San sung).

Sangha College, Champasak. Buddhist higher

education institution.

Historical Note: The Pariyatti Dhamma School

was established in 1940 in Wat Luang Pakse. In

1942 a Pali School is established in the same

monastery. In 1944, the Institute Indigène

D’études Bouddhiques was established there, and

after Independence, the Paḷi Schools and the

Institute of Buddhist Studies were renamed

Buddhist High Schools. In 2005 Champasak

Sangha College was established.

Sangha College, Vientiane. Buddhist higher

education institution. Also National Monastic

College.

Historical Note: Pariyatti Dhamma School was

established 1929 in Vientiane; renamed the Pali

Institute in 1953; renamed Buddhist Educational

Institute in 1967; renamed the Sangha College in

1996.

Sangha. Lao: [In Theravada Buddhism] The com-

munity of (at least partially) enlightened people,

often referring to the community of monks and

nuns.

Sangkharat. Lao: [In Theravada Buddhism] Abbot

of the Lao Buddhist Sangha. (See also Phra

Sangkharat).

SAO. State Audit Organization.

SAR. 1. [School] Self-Assessment Report. 2. Staff

Appraisal Report. (WB). 3. [Of China] Special

Administrative Region. (Hong Kong and Macau).

SAT. Sida Advisory Team (for TTEST).

Satellite school. An incomplete primary school

organized into a school cluster. (See Annex Figure

4). (Compare with Core school).

Save. See SC. [E.g. “She works for one of the Saves

– maybe Save Australia.”]


44

SBD. Standard Bidding Document.

SBG. [Formerly]. School Block Grant. (Also BG.

Now see REF).

SBM. School-based management.

SBS. Sector Budget Support. (Compare with GBS;

see also PRSO).

SBSD. Support for Better Service Delivery. (Under

GPAR).

SBT. School-based training. Compare with DCT.

SC. 1. Save the Children (Australia, Norway (Redd

barna), UK). (INGO). 2. Steering Committee.

SC UK. Save the Children [Federation] – UK.

(NGO, UK). Also SCF/UK, SCUK.

SCA. Save the Children [Federation] – Australia.

(NGO, Australia). Also SCF/A.

SCEP. Steering Committee on Educational Projects.

SCF. Save the Children Federation.

SCF/A. Save the Children [Federation] – Australia.

(NGO, Australia). Also SCA. (Also called “Save

Australia”).

SCF/N. Save the Children [Federation] – Norway.

(NGO, Norway). (See also Redd barna). (Also

called “Save Norway”).

SCF/UK. Save the Children [Federation] – UK.

(NGO, UK). Also SC-UK; SCUK. (Also called

“Save UK”).

School Assembly. Committee comprising the school

principal and teachers or teacher representatives

(depending on the size and organization of the

school) responsible for school management

decisions. (Also called School Management

Committee).

School-based training. [According to TVET Law,

December 2013] TVET training based mainly in

schools with occasional practice in real-world

production unit in accordance with the curriculum.

(Compare with Dual cooperative training).

School cluster. 1. Primary school cluster. A group

of primary schools, usually including at least one

complete primary school (core school) and one or

more incomplete schools (satellite schools), organ-

ized to provide pedagogical support and collec-

tively complete primary schooling. (See Annex

Figure 4). (See also Complete school; Groupe

scolaire; Muad; School network). 2. Primary-sec-

ondary school cluster. A group of primary and

secondary schools, where the primary schools

serve as feeders into the lower secondary schools,

which in turn serve as feeders into the upper

secondary schools.

School Management Committee. Committee

comprising the school principal and teachers or

teacher representatives (depending on the size and

organization of the school) responsible for school

management decisions. (Also called School

Assembly).

School network. 1. The collection of all schools of a

given category in a given administrative unit, such

as the set of all primary schools in a given prov-

ince or district, often used in connection with plan-

ning for rational use of school resources with

respect to demographic distributions. 2. School

cluster.

SCI. Save the Children International.

SCN. Save the Children Norway. (See also Redd

barna).

Scouts. See Young Pioneers.

SCP. Skills Contracting Program. (Under STVET).

SCS. [Formerly]. School Construction Services.

(MOES; renamed ECDM).

SCSP. [GMS] Sub-regional Cooperation Strategy

and Program.

SCUK. Save the Children UK.

SD. 1. Service delivery. 2. Skill development.

3. School Director. 4. Social development.

5. Standard Deviation.

SDC. 1. Skill Development Committee. (In

NCTS). 2. Swiss Agency for Development

and Cooperation.

SDGs[s]. Sustainable Development Goal[s].

(Compare with MDG. See also ESD).

SDIE. Social Development and Inclusive Education.

SDP. 1. Sector Development Program. (Focusing on

the aims and objectives of sector development).

(See ESDP; see also SIP). 2. Sector Development

Program. (Lending product, ADB). 3. Social

Development Plan. 4. School Development Plan.

SDR. Special Drawing Rights. (WB).

SDS. Sector Development Strategy.

SE. Supervision Entity.

SEA. 1. Southeast Asia. 2. Senior Education

Advisor.

SEA Games. Biennial sports event involving 11

countries of Southeast Asia, most notably hosted

by Laos in 2009.

SEAMEC. Southeast Asian Ministers of Education

Council. (See also SEAMEO; SEAMOLEC;

SEAVERN).

SEAMEO VOCTECH. SEAMEO Regional Center

for Vocational and Technical Education. (In

Brunei).

SEAMEO. Southeast Asian Ministers of Education

Organization. (Secretariat in Bangkok). (See also

ASCOE; SEAMEC; SEAMOLEC; SEAVERN).


45

SEAMOLEC. SEAMEO Regional Open Learning

Center. (See also SEAMEC; SEAVERN).

SEAP. Secondary Education Action Plan.

SEARCA. Southeast Asian Regional Center for

Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture.

(SEAMEO).

SEA-SPF. South East Asia School Principal Forum.

SEASREP. Southeast Asian Studies Regional

Exchange Program.

SEAVERN. Southeast Asian Vocational Education

Research Network. (SEAMEO. See also

SEAMEC; SEAMOLEC).

SECAL. Sector Adjustment Loan. (WB).

SEDP. 1. Second Education Development Project.

(WB, commonly referred to as EDP II). 2. Socio-

Economic Development Plan. (See NSEDP).

SEED-Net. Southeast Asia Engineering Education

Development Network. (See AUN/SEED-Net).

SEK. 1. Sekong Province. (Also SKN). 2. Swedish:

Swedish Crown.

Semi-examination. 1. Mid-term examination.

2. Partial examination, possibly take-home, open-

book, or oral examination prior to the final

examination.

Semi-Royalist Period. Period between the end of the

French Colonial Period and the Revolution

December 2, 1975, during which time the PL was

gaining control of a gradually increasing propor-

tion of the country and the RLG or the PGNU were

in control of the diminishing remainder. Hence

only semi-royalist.

Senior high school. See Upper secondary school.

Senior primary school. See Upper primary school.

SEQS. Secondary Education Quality Standards.

Serve 2U. (Non-profit charity, Hong Kong).

SES. Secondary education subsector.

SESDP. Secondary Education Sector Development

Program. (External financing by ADB).

(Formerly BESDP II).

Sex Ratio. See Gender Ratio.

SEZ. 1. Special Economic Zone. 2. Specific

Economic Zone. (See also SSEZ).

SFp[P]. School Feeding [Program]. (See also SMP).

SFS. School of Foundation Studies. (NUOL).

SG. School Grant.

SHEP. Strengthening Higher Education Project.

(External financing by ADB).

SHG. Self-help group.

SHIA. Swedish: Svenska Handikapporganisationers

Internationella Biståndsförening. [Swedish

Organizations of Disabled Persons International

Aid Association – Solidarity, Humanity, Inter-

national Aid].

Shifting classes. Classes operating on two shifts (e.g,

morning shift for grades 1-3, afternoon shift for

grades 4-5), as a cost-effective approach to

providing complete primary schooling in sparsely

populated areas. (Compare with Multi-grade

school).

SHN. School Health & Nutrition.

SIAA. State Inspection and Anti-Corruption

Authority.

SIBS. Sengdara International Bilingual School.

(Private, Vientiane).

Sida. Swedish International Development Coopera-

tion Agency. (Formerly Swedish International

Development Authority).

SIE. Stockholm Institute of Education (Lärarhög-

skolan i Stockholm, Sweden).

SIF. Singapore International Foundation. (NGO).

SIG. 1. School Improvement Grant. 2. Special

Interest Group.

SIL. 1. Summer Institute of Linguistics. 2. Specific

Investment Loan. (WB).

Silapa School. Lao: National School of Dance and

Music. (Under MOICT; Compare with Natasin

School).

SIP. 1. Sector Investment Program. (Focusing on the

investment aspects of sector development). (See

also SDP). 2. School Improvement Program.

3. School Improvement Plan.

SIREP. SEAMEO INNOTECH Regional Education

Program.

Sisavangvong University. [History]. University in

Vientiane established in 1958 under the Royal Lao

Government, named for King Sisavangvong,

supported by USAID, located at Dong Dok north

of Vientiane. Comprised École Supérieure de

Pédagogie, École Royale de Médecine, and Institut

de Droit et d’Administration. Dissolved following

major exodus of teaching staff (mostly French and

American) after 1975, emerging in 1996 as NUOL.

SISD. Statistics and Information Systems Division.

(See SITD).

SITD. Statistics and Information Technology

Division. (To be established in DPC under EDP

II; also SISD; see ESIT).

Six Principles of Education. From Education Law

of 2007/08, Article 5: “Education Principles”.

(Not to be confused with the Five Domains of

Education, also called the Five Principles of


46

Education or the Six Principles of Education

Reform):

1. Education shall be conducted in accordance

with socialist directives; it shall reflect national,

mass, scientific, and progressive aspects;

2. General education shall relate to vocational

education;

3. Education in school shall be in close relation

with education in family, in society, and out of

school;

4. Education shall combine theory with practice,

learning shall go along with experimentations,

and education shall be in close relation with the

world of work;

5. Education shall meet the socio-economic

development needs of each period; and

6. National education shall be relevant to regional

and international education.

Six Principles of Education Reform. The six

directives on which the NESRS is based (not to be

confused with the Six Principles of Education):

1. Aim to develop human resources applicable to

the strategic development of the country’s

economy and international goals;

2. Emphasize the national education structure, so

that attitudes and perceptions in society about

the educational structural reforms are widely

understood;

3. Implement with the participation of society to

ensure that education will continue to grow and

develop;

4. Expand intellectual life, preserve the traditions

and culture of the nation, and inspire a spirit of

solidarity among the population throughout the

country;

5. Expand access to education, promote

capabilities of people, improve their living

conditions, and link with regional and inter-

national situations; and

6. Enhance the status of teacher’s roles and

positions.

SKL. Schools for Kids in Laos. (NGO, Canada).

SKN. Sekong Province. (Also SEK, definition 1).

SKT. Savannakhet Province. (Also SVK)

SKU. Savannakhet University. (Founded 2009; see

Annex Table 2).

SM. School mapping.

SMAP. School mapping.

SMATT. Science and Mathematics Teacher Training

Project. (Supported by JICA).

SMCS. Social Marketing and Communication

Strategy.

SME. Small and Medium Enterprise.

SMEPDC. SME Promotion and Development

Committee.

SMEPDO. SME Promotion and Development

Office. (Under MOIC, definition 1; established

2004).

SMK. Subject Matter Knowledge.

SMP. School Meals Program. (See also NSMP,

SFP).

S-NCSEZ. Also SNCSEZ. Secretariat to National

Committee for Special Economic Zone. (See also

NCSEZ, SEZ, SSEZ).

SNM. School network mapping.

SNV. Dutch: Stichting Nederlandse Vrijwilligers.

[Netherlands Development Organization]. (NGO,

Netherlands).

SO. Strategic Objective. (Compare with ST).

SOE. 1. State owned enterprise. (See also SRE).

2. Statement of Expenditure.

SOLO. Structure of Observed Learning Outcome. A

taxonomy of levels of increasing complexity in

student’s understanding of subjects:

Pre-structural (Task not attacked appropriately;

student hasn’t really understood the point and

uses too simple an approach);

Uni-structural (Student’s response focuses on

only one relevant aspect);

Multi-structural (Student’s response focuses on

several relevant aspects treated independently

and additively, and assessment is primarily

quantitative);

Relational (Different aspects are integrated into

a coherent whole); and

Extended abstract (Previous integrated whole

can be conceptualized at a higher level of

abstraction and generalized to new topic or

area).

Note: Proposed by J. B. Biggs and K. F. Collis.

(Coontrast with Bloom’s Taxonomy).

Somdet Phra Loukeo. Supreme Patriarch of the Lao

Sangha.

SOMED. Senior Officials Meeting on Education.

(ASEAN; compare with ASED).

SOMS. [ASEAN] Senior Official Meeting on Sports.

SOP. 1. Standard Operating Procedures. 2. Sector

Operational [Rolling] Plan.

SOQ. School of Quality. (See also QES, PSQS,

SSQS).


47

SOS. 1. Save our Soul. (INGO providing orphan-

ages and boarding schools). 2. Source of supply.

(Procurement).

Southern Region. Saravane, Sekong, Champasak,

Attapeu. (See also Northern Region; Central

Region; Special Region).

SOV. Source of Verification. (Used especially in

LFA; see also OVI).

SP. Strategy Paper. (EC).

SPA. 1. Secondary Pedagogical Advisor. (See also

PA, PPA). 2. Student-Parent Association.

3. [History]. Supreme People’s Assembly.

(Renamed “National Assembly” with the

ratification of the Constitution, 1991).

SPC. State Planning Committee. (Under PMO,

replaced by CPC, later by CPI).

SPD. [Formerly]. Statistics and Planning Division

(In DPC; now see ESIT[C]).

Special course. [Higher education]. Fee payment

course.

Note: Special course are offered to fee paying

students, typically outside regular teaching hours.

Many students attending special courses are

sponsored by their employers and usually receive a

salary increase upon completion.

Special Region. [History]. Xaysomboon Special

Region. (The districts of the Region were

transferred in 2006 to Xiengkhuang and Vientiane

Provinces; restored as Xaysomboon Province in

December 2013).

SPMT. School Project Management Team. (See

EDP II).

SPPE. Strategy for Promoting Private Education

(2010-2020).

SPRSS. Summary Poverty Reduction and Social

Strategy. (ADB).

SPS. Safeguard Policy Statement.

SPSS. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences.

SPU. [Formerly]. Statistics and Planning Unit (In

DPC; now see ESIT[C]).

SQAC. [Formerly]. School Quality Assurance

Center. (See ESQAC).

SR. 1. Survival Rate [by grade]. 2. Special Region.

(See also Northern Region; Central Region;

Southern Region)

SRC. 1. School Readiness Competency. 2. Sector

Reform Contract (EU).

SRE. State Run Enterprise. (See also SOE).

SREAC. Strategy Research and Educational

Analysis Center. (Formerly PAD; SREAD).

(MOES, see Annex Figure 7).

SREAD. [Formerly]. Strategy Research and

Education Analysis Division (of DPC). (Formerly

PAD; renamed SREAC).

SRF. Statistics for Results Facility. (WB; see also

MfDR).

SRP. School Readiness Program. (See also

CBSRP).

SRV. Saravane Province.

SSA. School Self-Assessment.

SSC. [Formerly]. State Statistics Center. (Became

NSC, now DOS).

SSCP. Special Skill Contracting Program.

SSCTT. Skills Standard, Curricula, and Teacher

Training. (STVET Project).

SSEZ. Special and Specific Economic Zones. (See

also SEZ).

SSL. School Support Laos. (NGO, Norway).

SSME. Snapshot of School Management Effective-

ness.

SSQS. Secondary School Quality Standards.

(Compare with PSQS).

Note: The SSQS instrument comprise 45 items

relating to the student, teaching and learning

methods, the school environment, management and

administration, and community participation, but it

does not include evidence about student learning

outcomes.

SSSP. Secondary Student Stipend Program. (Under

SESDP; see also SAGP).

ST. Strategic Thrust. (Compare with SO).

Stagiaire. [History]. French: Intern, student teacher.

STCN. See SCN.

STD. 1. Standard Deviation. 2. Sexually Trans-

mitted Disease. (See also STI).

STEA. [Formerly]. Science, Technology, and

Environment Agency. (Originally under the PMO,

in 2010 restructured and absorbed into MOST).

STEIC. Statistic and Technology Education

Information Center.

STEP. 1. Skills Toward Employment and

Productivity. (WB). 2. Secondary Teacher

Education Program.

STF. Special Task Force.

STI. Sexually Transmitted Infection / Illness. (See

also STD).

STP. Short-term Priority. (Compare with LTP,

MTP).


48

STU. Santapol College, Udon Thani, Thailand.

STVETp[P]. Strengthening Technical and Vocational

Education and Training [Project]. (External

financing by ADB).

STW. School-to-work.

SU. 1. Souphanouvong University. (Luang Prabang,

founded 2003; see Annex Table 2).

2. [History]. Sisavangvong University.

(Vientiane).

Sub-district. In remote areas, unofficial administra-

tive organization of some ten villages, below the

District. (Compare with Khumban. See

Commune.)

Sub-SWG. See SWG; Focal Group.

SUL. Soochow University, Laos. (Overseas branch campus of Soochow University,

Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, PRC; not to be confused

with Soochow University, Taipei City, Taiwan).

Supplement. See Salary supplement.

SURAFCO. Support to the Reform of the Northern

Agriculture and Forestry College. [Project].

(External financing by SDC).

Surveillant. [History]. French: Supervisor (e.g., of

student teachers), Director of Studies.

Survival Rate [by grade]. (SR). UIS Definition:

Percentage of a cohort of students enrolled in the

1st grade of a given cycle of education in a given

school year who are expected to reach successive

grades. Note that a distinction is sometimes made

between Survival Rate with repetition and Survival

Rate without repetition. (Compare with Cohort

Completion Rate; Gross Graduation Ratio; PR;

TR).

SUSI. Study of US Institutes [Program]. (US State

Department).

Sutta [Pitaka]. Pali: [literally “Basket”, hence

collection of] Buddhist writings or teachings; the

scriptures of Theravada Buddhism. (See also

Tipitaka).

SVA. Shanti [Sanskrit: “Peace”] [Japanese Buddhist]

[International] Volunteer Association. (See

JSRC).

SVK. Savannakhet Province. (Also SKT).

SWAp. Sector Wide Approach [to Development

Programming]. (Also SWAP).

SWG. Sector Working Group. (See ESWG).

SY. School year. (Compare with AY, CY, FY).

T

T/C. Teachers per class. Note: UIS does not define

this statistic.

TA. Technical Assistance.

TACR. Technical Assistance Consultant’s Report.

(ADB).

TAG. Technical Advisory Group.

TALK. Teaching and Learning Kits. (RIES; BEGP).

TAPs. Technical and Advisory Provisions. (EU).

TASF. Technical Assistance Special Fund. (ADB).

Tasseng. Lao: [History]. 1. Administrative unit

between village and district; sub-district. (See

Muang, Khumban). 2. Head of this unit.

(Compare with Naiban).

TAT. 1. Textbook Assessment Team. 2. Technical

Assistance Team.

TATF. Technical Assistance and Training Facility.

ASEAN-U.S.

TAVP. Training Assistance Voucher Program.

(Initiated under STVET). (See also TAVS).

TAVS. Training Assistance Voucher Scheme.

(Initiated under STVET). (See also TAVP).

TB. Textbook.

TBA. Traditional Birth Attendant.

TBC. To be confirmed.

TBD. To be determined; To be decided. (Compare

with TBE)

TBE. To be established. (Compare with TBD).

TC. Technical college. (Compare with TS).

TCOL. Technical Cooperation Office for the EC

Cooperation Program in Lao PDR.

TCR. Technical [Assistance] Completion Report.

(ADB). (Compare with PCR).

TCTP. Third Country Training Program.

TDC. Teacher Development Center (NUOL/FOE,

renamed 2001 as TEADC, renamed 2004 as

DEAM).

TDMPF. Teacher Development and Management

Policy Framework.

TDO. Teacher Development Office (at TEIs).

TDS. Teacher Development Services (at PESs).

TDU. Teacher Development Units (at DEBs).

TE. Teacher education.

TEAB. See NTEAB.

TEADC. Teacher and Education Administrator

Development Center (NUOL/FOE, formerly TDC,

renamed 2004 as DEAM).

TEAR. Transformation, Empowerment, Advocacy,

Relief. (INGO, Christian international aid and

development agency).


49

Technician Diploma. Diploma awarded on comple-

tion of a TVET 12+2 year program. Compare with

Vocational Diploma.

TEE. Total education expenditure.

TEEC. Teacher Education Evaluation and

Coordination. (See TEECD).

TEECD. [Formerly]. Teacher Education Evaluation

and Coordination Division. (See TEED).

TEED. Teacher Education Evaluation Division

(DTE / MOES).

TEI. Teacher Education Institution. (Formerly TTC,

TTS; TTI).

Note: Although “teacher education institution”

represents more progressive terminology, “teacher

training college” is still widely used in the official

names of teacher education institutions.

TEIAB. Teacher Education Institution Advisory

Board.

TEMIS. Teacher Education Management Informa-

tion System. (Compare with TMIS).

Temple school. Primary school situated in the

temple compound, following the secular state

curriculum, and often taught by monks qualified

through secular teacher education. Some primary

school age boys also receive religious instruction

outside regular school hours. (Also Wat school;

compare with Pali school).

Temple. See Wat.

Temporary teacher. A teacher (regardless of

qualifications) permanently assigned to one school

but temporarily assigned to a different school.

(Compare with Permanent teacher; not to be

confused with Contract teacher).

TES. Teacher Education Strategy [2006-2015].

TESAP. Teacher Education Strategy 2006-2015 and

Action Plan 2006-2010.

TESOL. Teachers of English to Speakers of Other

Languages.

TEVT. Technical education and vocational training.

(See also TVED; VTET; the more commonly used

term internationally is TVET).

TF. 1. Task Force. 2. Trust fund.

TFR. Total Fertility Rate [per woman].

TG. Teachers’ Guide.

Tham script. Script used to read and write palm leaf

manuscripts and other Pali texts.

Thematic Focal Group. See Focal Group.

Theravada. Pali: “Doctrine of the Elders”. The

Buddhist tradition of Laos. Also referred to as

Southern Buddhism or Pali Buddhism.

Three Builds. Slogan embodying directives from the

9th Party Congress (March 17-21, 2011). Lao: Sam

sang:

Build the provinces as strategic units;

Build the capacity of the districts in all regards;

and

Build the villages into implementation units, in

some cases through merging villages into

clusters (khumban).

Note: The Lao word sang has a range of meanings.

It can mean “build” in a literal sense, as in “build a

house”; it mean “strengthen”, as in “build up your

muscles”; it can mean “develop”, as in “capacity

building”; or it can mean “construction”, as in Lao

Front for National Construction, LFNC. (See Note

to LFNC. See also Four Breakthroughs).

Three Characteristics of Education. (Lao: 3

Laksana):

Nation oriented (i.e., for national unity);

Mass education (i.e., for equity);

Scientific and modern.

Note: Often cited in connection with the Five

Domains of Education or Five Principles of

Education.

Three Pillars of Education Sector Development.

Pillar 1: Access with Equity; Pillar 2: Quality and

Relevance; Pillar 3: Management and Efficiency.

(Not to be confused with the Four Pillars of

Education).

Note: The Three Pillars, referenced in virtually all

official education sector development documents,

began with “The Education Strategic Vision”, pub-

lished by MOE in October 2000. It was a cross-

cutting alternative to a sub-sectoral approach to

sector development. It appeared as three program

“pillars” (Access, Quality, and Relevance) resting

on a base (Planning and Management). With the

publication of “Education Strategic Planning” in

August 2001, the Quality and Relevance pillars

had been merged into one, and the 3rd pillar was

Administration and Management. The 3rd pillar

has since become “Management and Efficiency” or

sometimes “Planning and Management”. Other

variants have also appeared from time to time.

Three Revolutions. [History]. “Theory of the Three

Revolutions”:

Revolution in relations of production;

Revolution in science and technology; and

Revolution in ideology and culture.

TICA. Thailand International Development

Cooperation Agency.


50

TICW. Trafficking in Children and Women. (ILO;

see also IPEC).

Tipitaka. Pali: Literally “three baskets” or collections

of teachings.

TISUP. Teacher in-service upgrading program. (See

also UPSET).

TL. Team Leader.

TLC. Teaching and Learning Center.

TLQ. Teaching and Learning Quality.

TMIS. Teacher Management Information System.

(Compare with TEMIS).

TNA. 1. Training needs analysis[/assessment].

2. Teacher needs analysis[/assessment].

TOC. Theory of Change.

TOEFL. ® Test of English as a Foreign Language.

(Developed by ETS). Administered in three

forms:

TOEFL CBT ® Computer-based Test;

TOEFL iBT ® Internet-based Test; and

TOEFL PBT ® Paper-based Test.

TOEIC. ® Test of English for International

Communication. (Developed by ETS).

TOR. Terms of Reference.

TOT. Training of Trainers.

TPAR. Technical Assistance Performance Audit

Report. (ADB; compare with PPAR).

TPDN. Teacher Profession Development Network.

TPME. Teacher Performance Monitoring and

Evaluation. (See also TQPM).

TPN. Teacher Professional Network.

TPR. 1. Total Physical Response [approach to

second language teaching]. 2. Teacher/Pupil

Ratio. Note that the inverse, PTR, is more

commonly used and is the ratio defined by UIS).

TPWG. Teacher Policy Working Group (EQIP II).

TQP. Teacher Quality and Performance.

TQPM. Teacher Quality and Performance

Monitoring.

TR. Transition Rate.

Transition Curriculum. Specific curriculum which

continues from a lower level to a higher level of

education or training to facilitate transitioning

between streams or programs by giving credit for

prior learning. (Compare with Continuous

Curriculum).

Transition Rate. (TR). UIS Definition: The

number of new entrants into the 1st grade of a

higher level of education in a given year Y,

expressed as a percentage of the number of

students enrolled in the final grade of the lower

level of education in the previous year, Y-1.

(Compare with Effective Transition Rate. Com-

pare also with PR, SR definition 1).

Transversal competencies. Competencies that are

beyond subject matter but are useful for occupa-

tional practice, such as teamwork, communication

skills, planning and organization, project

management, creativity, and decision‐making.

TRDpf[PF]. Teacher Recruitment and Deployment

[Policy Framework].

TREE. Training for Rural Economic Empowerment.

(ILO).

TS. Technical School. (Compare with TC).

TT. 1. Teacher Training. 2. [Historical].

Telegraphic Transfer.

TTC. [Formerly]. Teacher Training College. (See

also TTS; TEI). Note: Although “teacher educa-

tion” represents more progressive terminology, the

term “teacher training” is still widely used in

official documents and the names of teacher

education institutions.

TTD. [Formerly]. Teacher Training Department

(MOES; see also DTT, now renamed DTE). (See

Annex Figure 7).

T-TEP. Toyota Technical Education Program.

TTEP. TVET Teacher Education Program. (GTZ).

TTEST. Teacher Training Enhancement and Status

of Teachers (EQIP II, parallel co-financed by

Sida). (Note: Sometimes incorrectly referred to as

“Teacher Training and Enhancement of the Status

of Teachers” because enhancement of the status of

teachers was one of the aims of the project.)

TTI. [Formerly]. Teacher Training Institution. (See

TEI).

TTS. [Formerly]. Teacher Training School. (See

also TTC, TEI).

Note: Although “Teacher education” represents

more progressive terminology, “teacher training”

is still widely used in common discourse and in the

official names of teacher education institutions.

TTSC. Teacher Training Schools and Colleges.

(UNESCO). See TEI.

TT-TVET. Teacher Training for Technical and

Vocational Education and Training.

TU. Thammasat University. (Thailand).

TUC. [Province or district based] Teacher Upgrading

Center. (See also ISTTUC; ISTUC; NTUC).

TUP. [Province or district based] Teacher Upgrading

Program.


51

TVE. Technical and Vocational Education.

TVED. Technical and Vocational Education

Department. (See also DVTE). (See Annex

Figure 7).

TVET. Technical and vocational education and

training. (See also TEVT).

TVET Center. Institution for creating, developing,

and upgrading vocational or professional

knowledge and skill to respond the labor market

demand. Under MOES, MOLSW, other line

ministries, chambers of commerce and industry,

public and private enterprises, or labor units.

Defined by Article 32 of TVET Law of 2014.

TVET Certificate. According to TVET Law,

December 2013, an education and training mode

following basic education to provide labor-market

related knowledge, skills, and attitudes in three

levels:

Certificate [level] 1: Worker with basic vocational

skills, 3-6 months after completion of LS;

Certificate [level] 2: Semi-skilled worker, 1 year

after LS or Certificate 1 + at least 6 months;

Certificate [level] 3: Skilled worker, 2 years after

LS or Certificate 2 + at least 1 year.

TVET Law. Most recent, December 2013.

TVS. Technical [and] vocational school.

TWG. 1. Technical Working Group. 2. Textbook

Working Group (EDP II). 3. Trade[s] Working

Group. (In NCTS).

U

UBE. Universal basic education. (See also UPC,

UPE).

UBP. University Bus Pass. (NUOL).

UBRU. Ubon Ratchathani Rajabhat University.

(Thailand).

UCL. University Central Library. (NUOL).

UCW. Understanding Children’s Work. (Inter-

agency program initiated by ILO, UNICEF, WB).

UDX. Oudomxay Province. (Also ODX).

UGRAD. US Global Undergraduate Exchange

Program. (US State Department).

UH. [History]. University of Hawaii.

UHS. University of Health Sciences. (See Annex

Table 2).

Historical Note: Established as School of

Medicine, Sisavangvong University, 1958-1975;

University of Medicine, under Ministry of Health,

1975-1977; University of Health Science, under

Ministry of Health, 1977-1996; Faculty of Medical

Sciences, NUOL, 1996-2007; University of Health

Sciences, under Ministry of Health since 2007.

UIE. [Formerly]. UNESCO Institute for Education.

(In Hamburg, Germany). (Now see UIL).

UIL. UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (In

Hamburg, Germany). (Formerly UIE).

UIS. UNESCO Institute for Statistics. (In Montreal,

Canada)

UMAP. University Mobility in Asia and the Pacific.

UNC. UNESCO National Commission. (Hosted

within MOES).

UNCDF. United Nations Capital Development Fund.

Uncertified teacher. Teacher lacking a certificate of

completion of teacher training from a TEI. (See

also Certified teacher; Unqualified teacher).

UNCT. United Nations Country Team. (Comprises

in Laos some 20 UN agencies working in educa-

tion, HRD, and other fields).

UNDAF. United Nations Development Assistance

Framework.

UNDCP. United Nations Drug Control Program.

Under-qualified teacher. A teacher with incomplete

teacher education qualifications for the level at

which he/she is teaching, e.g., a qualified primary

school teacher who has been “promoted” to be a

lower secondary school teacher. (See also

Qualified teacher; Unqualified teacher).

UNDESD. See DESD, definition 1.

UNDG. United Nations Development Group.

UNDP. United Nations Development Program.

(Headquarters in New York City).

UNESCAP. United Nations Economic and Social

Commission for Asia and the Pacific. (Bangkok).

UNESCO. United Nations Educational, Scientific,

and Cultural Organization. (In Paris).

Historical Note: Laos became a member in 1951.

UNESCO Bangkok. [UNESCO] Asia and Pacific

Regional Bureau for Education.

UNESCO BKK. See UNESCO Bangkok.

UNESS. UNESCO National Education Support

Strategy.

UNEVOC. UNESCO International Center for Tech-

nical and Vocational Education and Training. (In

Bonn, Germany).

UNFPA. United Nations Population Fund.

(Formerly UN Fund for Population Activities).

UNGA. United Nations General Assembly.

UNGEI. United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative.

UNICEF. United Nations Children’s Fund.


52

UNIDO. United Nations Industrial Development

Organization. (Headquarters in Vienna, Austria).

Union Aid Abroad [APHEDA]. See APHEDA.

UNLD. UN Literacy Decade.

UNODC. United Nations Office on Drugs and

Crime.

UNPAF. UN Partner Agreement Framework.

Unqualified teacher. A teacher lacking any

completed teacher education. (See also Qualified

teacher; Under-qualified teacher; Uncertified

teacher).

UNRC. United Nations Resident Coordinator.

UOW. University of Wollongong (Australia).

UPC. Universal Primary [School] Completion. (See

also UBE, UPE).

UPE. Universal Primary Education. (See also UBE,

UPC).

UPI. [History]. University Pedagogical Institute.

Founded 1964. See VPU.

Upper primary school. [History]. Grades 4 – 5 or

4 – 6. (Compare with Lower primary school,

Elementary School).

Upper secondary school. Grades 10 - 12. (Compare

with Lower Secondary School. See Annex Figure

1).

Historical Note: Beginning in the school year

2009/10, a 4th year was added to lower secondary

school, leading to a 12 year school system.

UPSET. Upgrade in-service education and training.

(See also INSET; PRESET; TISUP)

US. Upper Secondary [Education]. (See USE).

USAID. United States Agency for International

Development. (Note: “AID” refers to the Agency

for International Development, with headquarters

in Washington, D.C. “USAID” refers to the field

offices abroad, such as in Vientiane.)

Historical Note: USAID operated in Laos from

1961 to 1975, returning in 2011, and returning to

the education sector in Laos in 2014. (See also

ICA).

USD. United States Dollar.

USE. Upper secondary education. (Grades 10 – 12

since 2009/10). (Compare with LSE).

USIA. [History]. US Information Agency. (See also

USIS).

USIS. [History]. United States Information Service.

(Name applied overseas for the USIA).

USME. Unity School of Management and

Education.

USOM. [History]. United States Operations

Mission.

USPACOM. United States Pacific Command. (In

coordination with the US Embassy, conducts

humanitarian work in education sector and other

sectors in Laos since late 1990s).

USS. Upper secondary school. (Compare with LSS.

See USE).

UXO. Unexploded Ordnance.

V

VA. Victim Assistance.

VAC. Village Administration Committee. (See also

VDC; VEDC definition 1).

Vat. See Wat.

VAT. Value Added Tax.

VAW. Violence against Women.

VC. Vocational Certificate. See TVET Certificate.

VC I Vocational Certificate, Level 1;

VC II Vocational Certificate, Level 2;

VC III Vocational Certificate, Level 3.

VC. Vientiane College.

VCESS. Vientiane Capital Education & Sports

Service. (Formerly [V]CES).

VD. Vientiane Declaration [on Aid Effectiveness].

(Signed at 9th RTM, 1 November 2006).

VDC. Village Development Committee. (See also

VEDC definition 1; WEDC).

VDCAP. Vientiane Declaration Country Action

Plan.

VDF. Village Development Fund.

VE. Vocational Education. See TVET.

VEC. Vocational Education Committee. (In NCTS).

VEDC. 1. Village Education Development

Committee. (See also EDC; DEDC; VDC; VEF).

2. [Formerly]. Vocational Education Development

Center. (Now see VEDI).

VEDI. Vocational Education [Research and]

Development Institute. (Vientiane). (Formerly

VEDC).

VEF. Village Education Fund. (See also VEDC

definition 1).

VELA. Vocational Education [and Training] in

Laos. (External co-financing by GIZ and SDC).

VEQS. Vocational Education Quality Standards.

VESD. Vientiane Education and Sports Department.

VET. Vocational Education and Training. (See

TVET).


53

VETSA. Vocational Education and Training System

Advisory [Project]. (External financing by GTZ).

VFI. Village Focus International (NGO, USA).

vhs. German: Deutscher Volkshochschul-Verband.

[German Adult Education Association]. (NGO,

Germany).

VHV. Village Health Volunteer.

VHW. Village Health Worker.

VI. Visual impairment.

Viang Chan. Vientiane.

Note: “Vientiane” is the more common spelling in

English and French language documents, but

“Viang Chan” is phonetically closer to the Lao

spelling. The romanized spelling, “Vientiane”,

was given by the French to accord with French

pronunciation.

Vice Minister. Senior official serving directly under

the Minister. (Also Deputy Minister; compare

with Assistant Minister).

Vichittakam. Lao: School of Visual Arts.

Vientiane Capital. Comprises Vientiane [Capital]

City plus the following districts: Mayparkngum,

Naxaithong, Sangthong, and Xaythany.

Vientiane [Capital] City. Comprises the following

districts: Chanthabouly, Hadxaifong, Naxaithong,

Pak Ngeum, Sangthong, Saythany, Sikhottabong,

Sisattanak, Xaysetha.

Vientiane Declaration [on Aid Effectiveness].

Declaration signed by Laos and DPs at 9th RTM in

November 2006 as the Lao adaptation or

‘localization’ of the Paris Declaration on Aid

Effectiveness. Main features include:

Ownership: Laos sets its own strategies for

poverty reduction, improves its institutions, and

tackles corruption;

Alignment: DPs align behind these objectives

and use local systems in their support programs;

Harmonization: DPs coordinate their programs,

simplify procedures, and share information to

avoid duplication;

Results: Laos and DPs focus on development

results and measurement of the results; and

Mutual accountability: Laos and DPs are

mutually accountable for development results.

Vientiane MCPT. See Vientiane Municipality.

Vientiane Municipality. Note: In common writing,

the terms “Vientiane Municipality”, “Vientiane

Capital”, and “Vientiane Prefecture” are often used

synonymously, but the term “Prefecture” is

obsolete in the Lao context, and the current official

names are Vientiane Capital and Vientiane

[Capital] City.

Vientiane Prefecture. [Formerly]. Vientiane

Capital. (See Vientiane Municipality, Vientiane

Capital and Vientiane [Capital] City).

Vihara. Pali: Literally “abode”, where monks live,

usually within a wat. Buddhist monastery.

Village school. A school, typically (but not

necessarily) in a rural or remote area and offering

only 1, 2, or 3 grades. (See also Incomplete

school, School cluster).

Village teacher. See Community teacher.

Vinaya [Pitaka]. Pali: [literally “Education Basket”,

or “Discipline Basket”, hence collection of rules

for education]. The regulatory framework for the

Sangha. (See also Tipitaka).

Vipassana. Pali: Insight, intuitive understanding,

gained through meditation.

VIS. Vientiane International School. (Private;

International Baccalaureate World School).

Vision 2020. 1. ASEAN Vision for the Year 2020.

(Adopted 1997). 2. 2020 Goal.

Vision 2030. Development policy vision to be

adopted by the 10th Party Congress in March 2015

for the Year 2030.

VITA [Park]. Vientiane Industrial and Trade Area.

(An SEZ, definition 1).

VLE. Virtual Learning Environment. (See also

CMS, LMS).

VM. Vice Minister.

Vocational center. Also Vocational Training Center.

Generic term for place in which basic vocational

training is conducted.

Vocational Diploma. Diploma awarded on

completion of a TVET 12+3 year program.

(Compare with Technician Diploma).

VOCTECH. SEAMEO Regional Center for

Vocational and Technical Education and Training.

(In Brunei Darussalam).

Volunteer teacher. See Community teacher.

VPA. Voluntary partnership agreement.

VPES. Vientiane Provincial Education Services.

VPU. [History]. Vientiane Pedagogical University.

(Merged in 1996 with other institutions to become

NUOL; see PERP).

VQF. Vocational Qualification[s] Framework. Also

LNVQF, NQF, NVQF.

Comprises 5 levels according to the TVET Law of

2014:

Level 1: Basic vocational training;

Level 2: Semi-skilled worker;

Level 3: Skilled worker; (Continued)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C4%81li

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C4%81li


54

Level 4: Technician; and

Level 5: Higher Technician.

Note: These vocational qualifications in detail are

specified in the National Qualification[s]

Framework (NQF).

VS. Village Science. (NGO, USA).

VSA. Volunteer Service Abroad. (NGO, New

Zealand).

VSDC. Vocational Skills Development Center.

(MOLSW).

VSO. Voluntary Service Overseas. INGO.

VT. Variable tranche. (E.g., with EC budget

support; compare with FT).

VTC. Vocational and Technical College. (Compare

with VTS).

VTE. 1. Vientiane [Capital City]. 2. Vientiane

Province. 3. Vocational Teacher Education.

VTED. Vocational Teacher Education Department.

(Faculty of Engineering, NUOL). (Formerly

VTTD).

VTET. See TVET.

VTI. Vocational and Technical Institution.

VTM. Vientiane Municipality. (Renamed Vientiane

Capital. See VTE).

VTP. 1. Vocational Training Program. 2. Vientiane

Province.

VTS. Vocational and Technical School. (Compare

with VTC).

VTTD. [Formerly]. Vocational Teacher Training

Division. (Faculty of Engineering, NUOL). (See

VTED).

VWU. Village Women’s Union.

VYDA. Vulnerable [Lao] Youth Development

Association. (Lao NPA, definition 2).

W

WA. Withdrawal Application. (ADB, WB).

W/A. Withdrawal Application.

Wapikhamthong Province. [History]. Created as a

province carved out of eastern Saravane province

in 1962 and restored to Saravane province at the

end of 1975. (See also Sam Neua Province).

WASH. Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene. (UNICEF).

Wat . Lao: Buddhist temple complex, including a

temple, other religious and residential buildings

enclosed by a wall with gateways. (Also “Vat”).

(See also Vihara).

Wat school. See Temple school. See also Pali

school.

WATSAN. Water and Sanitation.

WAU. World Around Us. (Primary school textbook

in social studies).

WB. World Bank.

WBI. World Bank Institute.

WCS. Wildlife Conservation Society. (NGO, USA).

WD&r[&]R. World Development & Relief. (INGO).

WDI. World Development Indicators. (WB).

WE [/ Consortium]. [Formerly] World Education /

Consortium in the Lao PDR. (NGO, Laos). (Now

see WEL).

Wearing white. Reference to a lay person (i.e., not

ordained into the Buddhist monkhood). (See also

White rob).

WEC. See WE / Consortium.

WEDC. Women’s Education Development Center.

(Compare with EDC, VEDI, DEDC).

WEDGE. Women’s Entrepreneurship Development

and Gender Equality. (ILO).

WEF. World Education Forum.

WEI. World Education International. (INGO, see

WEI / Consortium).

WEL. World Education Laos. (NGO, Laos).

WES. Water and Environmental Sanitation.

WFCL. Worst Forms of Child Labor. (ILO

convention, No. 182, 1999, to which Laos is a

signatory).

WFFC. World Fit For Children.

WFP. World Food Program. (UN).

WG. Working Group.

WHH. See DWHH.

White robe. Reference to either: (1) The robe of a

candidate for ordination as a Buddhist novice

monk; or (2) The robe of a Buddhist nun. (See

also Wearing white).

Historical Note: In some historical documents the

term “white-robed priests” is used disparagingly to

refer to Christian missionaries (i.e., not ordained

into the Buddhist Sangha, hence “wearing white”

instead of saffron robes).

WID. [Formerly]. Women in Development. (See

GDA).

WinS. WASH in Schools.

World Concern. (NGO, USA).

World Education. (NGO, USA). (See WEL).

WHO. World Health Organization.

WPE. Work Plan on Education. (ASEAN).

WR. World Renew. (INGO, Christian Reformed

Church in North America). (Formerly CRWRC).


55

WS. Workshop.

WSIS. World Summit on the Information Society.

WTO. World Trade Organization.

Historical Note: Laos joined WTO in February

2013.

WVl[L]. World Vision [in Lao PDR]. (INGO.

Christian humanitarian organization).

WWF. World Wildlife Fund. (INGO).

X Y Z

Xiosane Avouso Teacher. Lao: Senior Expert

Teacher. [Title, 1st Rank]. (See also Pasopkane

Teacher; Samnanekane Teacher; Xiosane Teacher).

Xiosane Teacher. Lao: Expert Teacher. [Title, 2nd

Rank]. (See also Pasopkane Teacher;

Samnanekane Teacher; and Xiosane Avouso

Teacher).

XK. Xiengkhuang Province. (Also XKG, XKH).

XKG. Xiengkhuang Province. (Also XK, XKH).

XKH. Xiengkhuang Province. (Also XK, XKG).

XRB. Xayabury Province. (Also XYB).

XYB. Xayabury Province. (Also XRB).

¥. Japanese Yen.

YB. [Statistical] Yearbook.

YES. [Honda] Young Engineers and Scientists.

(Independent program supported by Honda

Foundation).

YF. Youth Forum.

Young Pioneers. Organization for primary school

age children; under LPRYU.

Note: Sometimes translated as “Scouts”, but that

misses the political dimension of Young Pioneers,

which is organized under the leadership of

LPRYU, a Mass Organization, itself under the

leadership of the Party.

YOY. Also YoY, y-o-y. Year-on-year [growth rate],

for example of enrollment, population, GDP;

GDP/c. (Contrast with Average Annual Growth

Rate).

Note: For any extended period of time, the

Average Annual Growth Rate is preferred because

the YOY growth rate becomes increasingly

misleading as the number of periods increases.

ZOA. Dutch: Zuidoost-Azië. [Southeast Asia].

(NGO, Netherlands; best known internationally

simply as ZOA).

Zomia. Geographic term referring to the highlands of

northern peninsular Southeast Asia (Laos, northern

Vietnam and Thailand, the Shan Hills of northern

Burma) and the mountains of Southwest China.

Often used discussions concerning the ethnic

minorities living in the highlands and mountainous

areas.

ZOPP. German: Zielorientierte Projektplanung.

[Objectives-Oriented Project Planning]. Author

trans. (See also OOPP).

ZSKF. Zsigmond Király Fölskola. [Hungarian].

King Sigismund Business School. (Budapest,

Hungary)

RN & VN, 2015-01-21 53rd Edition

56

ANNEX


57

Annex Figures

Figure 1: School System Structure as of School Year 2014/2015

Notes:

1. The UNESCO International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED 2011) codes are shown.

2. The three-year lower secondary school was replaced by a four-year lower secondary school in

School Year 2009/10, resulting in a 12-year school system.


58

Figure 2: Alternate School Forms as of School Year 2012/2013


59

Figure 3: Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Forms

Figure 4: Typical School Cluster: Core School and Satellite Schools


60

Figure 5: Implementation Plan for Teacher Education 2010/10 to 2014/15

Notes:

1. The curriculum

and teaching and

learning methods in

Lao TVET are in a

state of transforma-

tion. Many TVET

institutions are intro-

ducing competency

based training.

2. The Diploma and

Higher Diploma

earned in the regular

TVET stream and the

IVET continuing

stream are formally

equivalent.

Figure 6: General, TVET, and IVET Streams after Lower Secondary Education


61

Figure 7: MOES Organization Chart (September, 2014)


62

Annex Tables

Table 1: PESS and DEBS Organization

PESS DEBS

Director Director

Deputy Directors Deputy Directors

Administration Administration

Organization and Personnel Organization and Personnel

Statistics and Planning Statistics and Planning

Pre-school and Primary Education Pre-school and Primary Education

Secondary Education

TVET

Non-formal Education and Basic Skill Training Non-formal Education and Basic Skill Training

Arts and Physical Education Arts and Physical Education

Teacher Development

Community Sport Sport Exercise

Elite Sports

Inspection and Evaluation Inspection and Evaluation

Pedagogical Advisors

Table 2: Universities and Faculties

Universities under MOES

Champasack University (CU), Pakse. Established 2002. Faculties: Agriculture, Economic and

Business Administration, Education.

National University of Laos (NUOL), Vientiane. Established 1995. Faculties: Agriculture,

Architecture, Economics and Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Forestry,

Law and Political Sciences, Letters, Medical Sciences, [Natural] Sciences, Social Sciences.

Savannakhet University (SKU), Savannakhet. Established 2009. Faculties: Agriculture and

Environmental Sciences, Business Administration, Linguistics and Humanities.

Souphanouvong University (SU), Luang Prabang. Established 2003. Faculties: Agriculture,

Economics and Business Administration, Education.

Universities under Other Ministries

University of Health Sciences (UHS), Vientiane. Established 2007. Faculties: Basic Science,

Dentistry, Medical Technology, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Post Graduate Studies.

Notes:

1. MOES has broad oversight responsibility for all education development, but CU, SKU, and SU have

autonomous administrative authority.

2. The University of Health Sciences was established in 1958 as the School of Medicine and has been

renamed several times. It has been managed alternately under the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of

Health. In 2007 it was renamed University of Health Sciences and placed under the Ministry of Health.


63

Table 3: Ethno-Linguistic Groups and their Population Distribution, 2005

No. Ethnic group % No. Ethnic group %

Lao-Tai Linguistic Sub-group

Mon-Khmer Sub-group Continued

1 Lao 54.6 30 Cheng 0.1

2 Tai 3.8 31 Sedang 0.0

3 Phoutai 3.3 32 Suay 0.8

4 Lue 2.2 33 Nya Heun 0.1

5 Nyouan 0.5 34 Lavi 0.0

6 Yang 0.1 35 Pacoh 0.3

7 Xaek 0.1 36 Khmer 0.1

8 Tai Neua 0.3 37 Toum 0.1

Total 64.9 38 Ngouan 0.0

39 Moy 0.0

Mon-Khmer Linguistic Sub-group 40 Kri 0.0

9 Khmou 10.9 Total 22.6

10 Phai 0.4

11 Xing Moul 0.2 Tibeto-Burman Linguistic Sub-group

12 Phong 0.5 41 Ahka 1.6

13 Thaen 0.0 42 Singsily 0.7

14 Oedou 0.0 43 Lahou 0.3

15 Bit 0.0 44 Sila 0.1

16 Lamet 0.4 45 Hanyi 0.0

17 Samtao 0.1 46 Lolo 0.0

18 Katang 2.1 47 Ho 0.2

19 Makong 2.1 Total 2.8

20 Tri 0.5

21 Yrou 0.8 Hmong-Yao Linguistic sub-group

22 Tariang 0.5 48 Hmong 8.0

23 Ta Oy 0.6 49 Iu Mien Yao 0.5

24 Yaeh 0.2 Total 8.5

25 Brao 0.4

26 Katou 0.4 Other / No answer

27 Halak 0.4 50 Other 0.2

28 Oy 0.4 51 No answer 1.0

29 Kriang 0.2

National Population Total 100.0

Source: 2005 National Census, main report, Table 2.6, page 15.

Historical Note: The RLG classified the multi-ethnic population of Laos into three groups (Lao Loum, Lao

Soung, and Lao Theung) based on the assumed topographical distribution, with little regard to ethno-linguistic

characteristics. The 1992 Central Party Resolution on Ethnic Minorities recommended that this classification no

longer be used. The National Edification Committee of the Lao National Ethnic Classification Conference in

August 2000 agreed on a two tiered system comprising 49 ethnic groups (as shown above) and 160 sub-groups.

As of the school year 2007/08 the ethnicity data collected by MOES is based on the ethno-linguistic

classifications, not the topographical classification.


64

Table 4: Lao Education for All (EFA) - Number of Objectives, Targets, and Activities

Program

Objec-

tives Targets

Activ-

ities

Pillar 1: Access and Participation 22 30 139

1 Access and Participation in ECCD 4 4 17

2 Access and Participation in Formal Primary Education 5 21 32

3 Access and Participation in Lower Secondary Education 4 2 19

4 Youth and Adult Literacy 7 2 53

5 Skills Development Program for Disadvantaged Groups 2 1 18

Pillar 2: Quality and Relevance 13 6 110

6 Quality and Relevance in Formal Primary and Lower

Secondary Education

13 6 110

Pillar 3: Management 7 8 26

7 Education Administration and Management 7 8 26

Source: Ministry of Education (MOE). (2005). “Education for All National Plan of Action 2003-

2015”. Vientiane: MOE. Pp. 41-65.

Table 5: Lao National Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for Education

No. Indicator

Target

(%)

MDG 2: Ensure that by 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be

able to complete a full course of primary schooling.

6 Primary Net Enrollment Rate 98

7 Primary school Survival Rate 95

8 Literacy rate in age range 15-24 99

MDG 3: Eliminate gender disparity at all levels by 2015.

9 Gender Ratio for enrollment at all levels 100

10 Gender Ratio for literacy in age range 15-24 100

Note: Only those MDGs and indicators directly and specifically related to the education sector are listed

here. For a complete listing the reader is referred to the relevant official documentation, e.g., Government of

Lao PDR and United Nations. (2004). “Millennium Development Goals Progress Report Lao PDR”.

Vientiane and New York: GOL and UN.


65

Table 6: Official Names of Lao Government Structure, as of July 2014

Official Name & Standard Abbreviation

Sometimes found in current writings

but out of date or incorrect

Ministries

Ministry of Agriculture & Forestry (MAF) Ministry of Agriculture

Ministry of Education & Sports (MOES) Ministry of Education

Ministry of Energy & Mines (MEM) Ministry of Energy & Mining

Ministry of Finance (MOF)

Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA)

Ministry of Health (MOH) Ministry of Public Health

Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA)

Ministry of Industry & Commerce (MIC) Ministry of Industry & Handicraft

Ministry of Information, Culture, & Tourism (MICT) Ministry of Information & Culture

Ministry of Justice (MOJ)

Ministry of Labor & Social Welfare (MOLSW)

Ministry of National Defense (MND) Ministry of Public Defense

Ministry of Natural Resources & Environment (MONRE)

Ministry of Planning & Investment (MOPI or MPI)

Ministry of Post & Telecommunications (MPT) Ministry of Post, Telecom, & Communications

Ministry of Public Security (MPS) Ministry of National Security

Ministry of Public Works & Transport (MPWT)

Ministry of Science & Technology (MOST)

Ministry-equivalent Organizations

Bank of the Lao PDR

Government Inspection Authority

Government Office.

Note: This list is provided here because references in English-language literature, including “official

translations” of GOL documents, often give out-of-date names or “home-made” translations. Here we list the

official names as provided on the official websites. Sometimes variants can be found on the same official

website. In such cases we have listed here the most common variants found in authoritative and well-written

documents.


66

Table 7: Spelling of Provinces and Common Place Names

Code Province Common Places

1 Vientiane Capital Annamite Mountain Range (also referred to as the Annamese or

Annamite Cordillera).

2 Phongsaly Bolaven Plateau. Located mainly in Champasak Province, but

extending into Sekong and Attapeu Provinces.

3 Luangnamtha Khone Falls (In southern Laos)

4 Oudomxay Plain of Jars (Located on the Xiengkhuang Plateau).

5 Bokeo

6 Luangprabang Note: The districts of Xaysomboon Special Region were transferred

in 2006 to Xiengkhuang and Vientiane Provinces; restored as

Xaysomboon Province in December 2013. 7 Huaphanh

8 Xayabury

9 Xiengkhuang

10 Vientiane

11 Borikhamxay

12 Khammuane

13 Savannakhet

14 Saravane

15 Sekong

16 Champasack

17 Attapeu

Note: There is no official spelling in English for names of provinces. The spellings given here are those used

in the statistical reports issued by the Lao Statistics Bureau. The Code is the province number in the statistical

reports. The spelling of other common place names follows the most authoritative sources.


67

Annex Boxes

Box 1: Summary Timeline for General Education Policy Development, from 1990

March 1990: Laos signs World Declaration on Education for All (EFA) in Jomtien, Thailand.

August 1996: Prime Minister signs Decree on Compulsory Education.

April 2000: Education Law 2000 mandates free and compulsory primary education.

September 2000: Laos commits to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) at the Millennium Summit at

the UN headquarters in New York.

October 2000: MOE publishes ‘The Education Strategic Vision up to the Year 2020’ for presentation at 7th

Round Table Meeting.

March 2001: 7th Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) presents a 5-, 10-, and 20-year

development strategy and endorses the 5th National Socio-Economic Development Plan (NSEDP5)

(2001-2005).

August 2001: MOE publishes ‘The Education Strategic Planning, 20 Years (2001-2020), 10 Years (2001-

2010), and 5 Years Development Plan for Education at the 5th Plenary Session (2001-2005)’.

March 2005: ‘Education for All National Plan of Action 2003-2015’ (EFA NPA) is approved by the Prime

Minister, committing Laos to national EFA goals and targets in accordance with the Framework for

Action adopted at the World Education Forum in Dakar in 2000.

March 2006: 8th Party Congress endorses 6th NSEDP (2006-2010), which promotes economic development,

with human resource development as a key instrument.

November 2006: At the 9th Round Table Meeting, Vientiane Declaration (VD) on Aid Effectiveness is signed.

July 2007: The National Assembly approves the Revised Education Law 2007, which stipulates the extension

of lower secondary schooling to four years and promotes private education sector investment.

April 2008: National Education System Reform Strategy (NESRS) 2006-2015 is promulgated.

January 2009: Development Partners endorse draft Education Sector Development Framework 2009-2015

(ESDF) as common framework for support to government for education sector development and

recommends Lao PDR accession to Fast Track Initiative (FTI) Partnership.

April 2009: Education Sector Development Framework 2009-2015 (ESDF) is promulgated.

January 2010: PMO promulgates Decree on TVET and Skills Development.

March 2010: Lao PDR successfully secures USD30 million from FTI–Catalytic Fund to support

implementation of the sector plan.

September 2011: Education Sector Development Plan 2011-2015 (ESDP) is promulgated.

September 2011: In accordance with directions in the 7th NSEDP, and after merger with Lao National Sports

Committee, Ministry of Education (MOE) is reorganized and re-named Ministry of Education and Sports

(MOES).

October, 2011: The 7th NSEDP (2011-2015) is approved.

January 2014: TVET Law and Labor Law are approved.

September 2014. National Qualifications Framework (NQF) is approved.

Glossary of Terms for Education Development in Lao PDR

Documents

list of annex figures

list of annex tables

list of annex boxes

education development

lao pdr latest update

ari vitikainen

rd edition