DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
P R E S S  R E L E A S E
www.dfa.gov.ph                                                                        2330 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines                                                                     Tel. No. 834-4000 
SFA-AGR-561-06                                                                                                                                                                                                                             30 June 2006

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY, VIENTIANE CONDUCTS TRAINING PROGRAM 
FOR LAO TEACHER-TRAINERS IN COORDINATION WITH UP OPEN UNIVERSITY  

Ambassador Buensuceso (2nd L), Director Lachanthaboun (3rdL) andProfessor Bandalaria (4th L) pose with teachers and staff of the Lao Ministryof Education during the Training Seminar. 

30 June 2006 – Philippine Ambassador to Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) Elizabeth Buensuceso reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the Embassy, in coordination with the Lao PDR Ministry of Education and the University of the Philippines Open University, conducted a two-day training program for teacher-trainers on 13 & 14 June 2006 at the Ministry of Education that focused on leadership, management and communication skills.

Dr. Melinda dP. Bandalaria, University Registrar and Associate Professor at the UP Open University, was the program’s resource speaker.  

Ambassador Buensuceso said that the training program is the first in a series of training programs that the Embassy plans to sponsor to assist in the capacity building of the host country and the opportunity to upgrade the knowledge and skills of its employees.  

In her message during the opening of the training program, Mme. Lachanthaboun, Director General of Teacher Training Department, expressed her gratitude for this initiative of the Philippine Ambassador.  The Director said that she hopes the program will also cover the bigger number of teachers not only in Vientiane but in the provinces as well.   

Fifteen staff members of the Ministry of Education participated in the training program. Most are involved in the training of teachers and curriculum review and development.  “Not only did the training focus on upgrading knowledge and skills of the participants, but it also became a venue for reflecting management and communication practices and techniques in a particular cultural context,” Ambassador Buensuceso said.  

She added that the training program is one of the many training packages that the University of the Philippines Open University conducts as part of its mandate to provide continuing education to various professionals.  END 

/jay

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