Development of a teacher code of conduct in Lao PDR

Invited to provide assistance, IIEP shared with participants the major factors of success or failure when developing teacher codes of conduct (as identified by its international survey, conducted in 24 countries), and the essential stages of a successful elaboration and enforcement of these codes (based on IIEP’s Guidelines on the subject). The Institute also facilitated working groups’ sessions which prepared the launch and the process of code development.

 

Participants formulated the major objectives for a code and drafted a content outline. They also identified the major stakeholders to mobilize and consult. They agreed on a preliminary work plan for future steps and a draft communication plan. Another outcome of the meeting was the creation of a sense of ownership of the process of code design and development by all participants.

 

The Code Drafting committee will meet in September 2012, and it is expected that the Code will be adopted and widely disseminated in early 2013.

 

This successful meeting benefited from the financial support of the Capacity Development for Education for All (CapEFA) programme for Lao PDR, which focuses on teacher education in its current Phase 2 (April 2012-June 2013).

 

This meeting was organized by UNESCO Bangkok in collaboration with the Laotian Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) and gathered representatives from the eight groups of teachers in the country, from relevant departments within MoES (in particular the Department of Teacher Education), and directors from four selected teacher training colleges. Representatives from the Lao National Commission for UNESCO, as well as from development agencies also took part in the discussions. The debates were opened by H.E. Kongsy Sengmany, Vice Minister of Education and Sports, and Mr Etienne Clément, Deputy Director of the UNESCO Bangkok Office.