Publications

	Table of Contents
p. 11 of 18 BACK | NEXT Executive Summary I. Introduction II. Long-Term Vision and Strategy for ADF III. Operational Priorites IV. Use of ADF VII Resources to Date A. Bangladesh: Sundarbans Biodiversity Conservation B. Bhutan: Financial Sector Intermediation C. Nepal: Rural Microfinance D. Lao PDR: Basic Education for Girls E. Kyrgyz Republic: Flood Emergency Rehabilitation F. Pacific DMCs: Partnerships with the Bank V. Financial Management VI. Conclusions

Asian Development Fund VII: Progress Report (1999) : IV. Use of ADF VII Resources to Date

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D. Lao PDR: Basic Education for Girls

46. The fourth example has improvement of the status of women in Lao PDR as a primary objective, and human development (including population planning) as a secondary objective, following the Bank’s project classification system. The project, assisted by an ADF loan of $20 million approved in 1998, will mainly benefit ethnic minority girls and provide education for boys.¹⁷ Over the course of the project, 375 villages will receive new multigrade schools with a total annual student capacity of about 29,000. Fifty villages will receive five-grade schools with a total annual student capacity of 10,000. The multigrade schools will particularly benefit girls of ethnic minorities, as they will be able to attend schools close to their homes. These schools will provide improved access and improved quality, which will encourage the students to complete school: about 300 ethnic minority teachers, mainly females, will be recruited and trained; 50 new pedagogical advisers will be appointed and trained in how to support teaching practices to meet the needs of minority children, especially girls, and children in multigrade schools; and 4,000 teachers and school principals will receive in-service training in ethnic minority and multigrade approaches.

47. Through the provision of facilities, more female teachers, relevant localized materials, better supervision, and village mobilization, the gross enrollment will increase by about 27 percent for boys and 46 percent for girls, and completion rates will increase by about 83 percent for boys and 103 percent for girls in project schools. More female primary education graduates will help improve women's status and active participation in socioeconomic activities and contribute to human development. Education will increase their chances to have paid employment, higher individual earnings, and greater agricultural productivity, and will increase the number of students qualified for secondary and higher education. It will help reinforce the strong association between the education of girls and family benefits, principally improvements in child and family health, nutrition standards, and population planning. In addition, a substantial number of Ministry of Education staff will benefit from in-house long-term and short-term training, and regional training.

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