Facilitation skills

The country’s limited resources have been a challenge in sustaining and monitoring

projects in some areas. To improve teacher quality, Lao PDR conducted a workshop to

identify the capacity gaps and training needs of officials responsible for providing in-

service teacher training at the provincial level. Based on the results, CapED directed its

support towards strategic planning and project management, facilitation skills, and

monitoring and evaluation. Relevant officials from Provincial Teacher Development

Centres (PTDCs) and Provincial Education and Sports Services (PESSs) received on-the

ground support to organize and deliver effective in-service teacher training in all of Lao

PDR’s 18 provinces.

Using participatory approaches, the workshop was attended by 45 MoES officials (27% female) from the central level (40%) and provincial (60%) levels. The objectives were to (i) assess and identify the capacity gaps as well as the capacity and training needs of officials responsible for providing in-service teacher training at the provincial level; and (ii) provide recommendations for the next steps, including the prioritization of capacity and training needs identified during the workshop, in order to enable and support relevant officials at the provincial level to deliver effective in-service training that meets the learning needs of the teachers they serve.

At the first step, a training manual on strategic planning and project management was developed by 23 MoES officials (48% female). An 8-day training workshop for Heads/Deputy Heads of PTDC and the PESS’s Teacher Development Units was planned to be organized, followed by training workshops on facilitation skills and on monitoring and evaluation skills. After the capacity of target provincial-level officials has been strengthened in the three aforementioned areas, UNESCO will also support them to organize in-service training for teachers in their respective provinces.

A capacity development training workshop on strategic planning and project management was organized on 19-26 February 2018 in Thalat, Vientiane province. The objectives were to (i) train the heads and deputy heads of PTDCs and the PESS’s Teacher Development Units on strategic planning and project management, and (ii) strengthen the capacities of the target participants to develop action plans and implement activities more effectively. The workshop was attended by 42 participants (38% female).

A trainer’s manual on facilitation skills for provincial-level trainers was developed by a taskforce specifically appointed for the development of such manual. The taskforce, comprising 16 (81% females) MoES officials and teacher educators, also enhanced their capacities in developing training materials during the workshop in MoES, with technical guidance from UNESCO consultant. During the workshop, the scope for capacity development on facilitation skills was identified, and a draft trainer’s manual on facilitation skills was developed. The trainer’s manual was completed and finalized in early July 2018.

73 (40% females) provincial-level trainers from PTDCs and PESSs attended the workshop. They were equipped with necessary knowledge and facilitation skills for delivering and facilitating effective in-service teacher training.