Lao to learn masters in own language
Xayxana Leukai

THE master's degree to be taught in the Lao language will be open to students in Laos by the end of 2005, said education officials this week.

The Faculty of Medical Sciences in collaboration with the Public Health Institute held a workshop to finalise the course outline and module development for the Master's Degree in Public Health programme yesterday.

"The master's degree will help to improve the medical skills of officials at the district and provincial levels. It will also provide opportunities for those who do not get scholarships to study abroad," said Associate Professor Sing Mengrath, Vice Dean of Postgraduate Studies, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Ministry of Education.

Organisers say the degree will be of a quality equivalent to master's degrees in the region because lecturers will come from universities in Vietnam and Thailand to teach the degree. The degree will be taught for one and a half years. "This is a suitable time to learn about health work in our country especially tropical diseases," said Professor Sing.

Professor Sayamang Vongsak, Vice President of Academic Affairs, National University of Laos introduced the degree to 45 participants from the university, NGOs, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Public Health. "The development of the master's degree programme is in direct implementation of the Government's human resources development policy," he said. "It will be the first master's degree taught in the Lao language by the university."

Professor Sing said that the university currently teaches master's degrees in tropical diseases in the French language, which is a barrier for Lao students who do not have the required language skills. "The new Lao master's degree will eliminate the need for Lao students to understand an international language," he said.

To qualify for entry into the degree programme students must be health managers or potential managers at all levels with an emphasis on producing trainees working in public health at the district level.

Those who have studied bachelor's degrees in Health Sciences such as general medicine, pharmacy, nursing, technology and physiotherapy, or dental surgery can qualify. Those who have studied bachelor's degrees in Natural Sciences needed to complete a prerequisite programme. Health staff working in the Government sector and for NGOs will also be considered. They should be under 45 years of age with at least five years experience in the healthcare sector and be able to pass an entrance examination, required by Ministry of Education.

The Rockefeller Foundation, from the United States of America supported the development of the degree with about US$ 48,000 in funding.

Vientiane Times
April 30, 2004
Vol: 11 No: 82

 

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