Lao PDR

OPEN AND DISTANCE EDUCATION IN LAO PDR

By: Siri Souvannasy, Deputy Director Academic AffairsOffice, National University of Laos.

INTRODUCTION

1. Geography

Laos is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia located at the center of Indochina or rather the Golden Peninsular. The area is 236,000 square kilometers (1995 census). More than 80% is mountainous and the rest which is lowland lies along the Mekong River Basin. Laos bordered with five countries such as China to the north, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south, Thailand to the west and Myanmar to the northwest. Land borders is 5,038 kilometers. The longest border is with Vietnam 2,130 kilometers by the east Great mountain range and 1,754 with Thailand which Mekong River serves as the natural border line. The country consists of 17 provinces, 1 special zone, 142 districts, 10,089 villages (2000)

2. Population and Ethnic Groups

The population was estimated at 5.6 million (2002 census) with the density of 21 persons per square kilometer and the population growth rate is 2.8% per year, the women in overall population is 50.3%The number of population living in rural areas in the year 2000 was 80% of the population. Laos is a multi-cultural society with 47 ethnic groups, but the Lowland Lao forms the majority which is estimated around 52%, the other main groups is the Upland Lao consisting of around 28% and the Highland Lao which is around 13%. The rest are those Chinese and Vietnamese who live in the urban areas. The proportion of the population using public electricity is 32.2%, the proportion of households with access to radio is 52% and to television is 30% (1998)

3. Language and Dialects

Though diverse in population but Lao is an official language and used as medium of social and educational medium of instruction. The ethnic languages are also spoken by individual group but with no decoding. Lao language is based on Pali and Sanskrit scripts. Within Laos dialects vary from each part but can be understood by other groups. English is becoming more and more important in business and education in Laos.

4. History

Laos has along history and in the former time its kingdom prospered and covered large territory. The recent history revolved around struggling for independence. Even though Laos got its first independence from France since 1947 but fighting continued until on December 2, 1975 that it really got full independence and established into Lao People Democratic Republic. With long continuous destruction from wars and poor infra-structure, Laos is still regarded as one of the least developed country in the region. Political and social condition is becoming stable and gradually developed.

5. Currency

Lao kip is the national currency. 10,000 kip one is equivalent to one US dollar.

6. Economy

Lao economy is beginning to improve after joining with ASEAN at the rate of growing at 7% per year. However, it is still far to catch up with the economy of the neighboring countries since more than 80% is still rural area and only 12% is arable land suitable for cultivation and the rest is mountainous covered by forests. Laos imported more than export. The main exports are wood, farm products, electricity to Thailand and recently, minerals are being mined.

7. Media

With the coming of information technology Laos is no longer limit within itself but open to the world through many means. Laos is linked to the world. There are 4 TV stations and many radio stations. Besides, cable TV is available now. ICT is becoming widely used by the people in the urban areas.