Laos - Hundreds of students return to school in Lao's flood-hit provinces

Hundreds of students in Laos' flood-hit central and southern provinces have only just returned to school despite the new academic year opening at the start of September.

In some areas, students still cannot get to school because of flooding.

Many primary and secondary schools in Vientiane, Khammuan and Champassak provinces were affected by flooding brought about by tropical storm Nock-Ten in late July.

Most of the schools required funding for repairs and to replace equipment such as textbooks, blackboards, desks and chairs.

The flooding caused 850 million kip (US$105,787) worth of damage to the education sector in Khammuan province and 500 million kip (US$62,227) in Champassak province, according to reports from provincial education departments.

So me schools opened in time for the new academic year at the beginning of September, but had to close again due to further flooding affecting road access.

Almost 3,000 students at 18 primary and secondary schools in 12 villages of Thoulakhom district in Vientiane province had to stay home recently following further flooding after the Nam Ngum I dam released more water from its reservoir following torrential rain.

However, only two schools, in Souksara and Had Siew villages, have yet to reopen as clean-up operations are continuing after the floodwaters receded.

Thoulakhom district Education Office Head Somwang Sibounheaung told Vientiane Times last week that the two schools are expected to open this week so long as there is no further heavy rain.

The flooding damaged about 90 million kip (US$11,200)worth of educational equipment in the district, he said.

At present, various individuals, companies and organisations are contributing donations to assist the education sectors in flood-hit provinces.

However, there is still a worrying lack of teachers to meet demand, especially in remote areas.

Last week the Nam Ngum I da m released 0.6 metres of water as the level of its reservoir was still considered dangerous, the plant's Deputy Director Somchay Sichantharath said.

Further releases of water may be necessary if heavy rains see the reservoir's water level exceed normal capacity.

Khamphone Syvongxay

Vientiane Times

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