Lifelong learning creating foundations for community development – outcomes of the 2nd International Seminar on Education for Rural Community
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- Published: Sunday, 22 September 2019 16:22
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Representatives from SEAMEO CED Governing Board Members, International Organizations and government staff from Ministry of Education and Sports and Luang Prabang Provincial Education and Sports Service at the 2nd International Seminar on Education for Rural Community held on 29-30 August 2019, at Muangthong Hotel, Luang Prabang Province, Lao PDR
The SEAMEO Regional Centre for Community Education Development (SEAMEO CED) hosted a two-day International Seminar on Education for Rural Communities from 29-30 August 2019 at Muangthong Hotel, Luang Prabang Province, Lao PDR. The seminar was organized in collaboration with DVV International and the Luang Prabang Provincial Education and Sports Service to promote education and learning for building sustainable livelihoods, in line with Sustainable Development Goal No 4 “ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promot[ing] lifelong learning”.
Associate Professor Dr Silinthone Sacklokham Director of SEAMEO CED highlighted the value of the seminar in building:
a common understanding of the issues in community education and livelihood development including empowerment and participation from the community in program development.
Dr Johann Heilmann, Regional Director of DVV International also spoke about how the seminar highlights:
concepts of empowerment [which] are central to supporting people to become proud of their community, education, learning and skills.
The International Seminar was attended by participants from over 12 countries, over the two days, shared experiences of how Learning Centers can be developed and supported on the community and national policy level, mobile teachers and language transition programs in Cambodia, how to create a lifelong learning society in Thailand, programme innovations to support ethnic minorities in Lao PDR and culturally sensitive Indigenous education in Vietnam. Participants learnt how these best practices can promote education for communities in rural and remote areas within the framework of lifelong learning and its contribution to social development.
Throughout the seminar, participants reached a shared understanding of Community Education which they defined as community-based education or community learning and the development of programs to promote learning and social development with individuals and groups using a range of formal and non-formal methods.
Participants of International Seminar on Education for Rural Community at Community Learning Centre on 30 August 2019, Thapho village, Phonxay District, Luang Prabang Province.
On the second day, participants had the opportunity to visit the CLC in Thapho Village and the Non-Formal Education Center in Luang Prabang Province to explore how communities organize themselves to enhance their learning and use this knowledge for improving their livelihoods.
Along with SEAMEO CED Governing Board Members and International Organizations (DVV International, Non Timber Forest Products from Cambodia, UNESCO INRULED from P.R China, Chulalongkorn University from Thailand, SEAMEO CELLL from Vietnam and SEAMEO INNOTECH from Philippines, the workshop involved participants from the Ministry of Education and Sports and Luang Prabang Provincial Education and Sports Service. The two-day program supported participants to exchange their knowledge and best practices in promoting the adult and lifelong learning in South East Asian Region.
