South Korea funds 100 schools for Laos

Booyoung Co Ltd donates US$2.5 million for the construction of 100 primary schools.

A South Korean company presented more than US$2.5 million to the Foundation for Promoting Education on Monday for the construction of 100 primary schools nationwide.

The Booyoung Co Ltd wants to help raise the standard of education in Laos as well as encourage the development of Lao children...more

The donation was handed over by the company's adviser, Mr Chang Myung-Kwan, and received by Standing Deputy Prime Minister Mr Somsavat Lengsavad, witnessed by officials, the Minister of Education Dr Somkot Mangnomek, and the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Laos , Mr Park Jae-hyun.

It is anticipated that the first 50 schools will be completed by the start of the next academic year in September, and the remainder should be constructed by March 2008.

The first primary school will be built in Thami village, Hinboun district, Khammuan province, by the DM Construction Company.

In addition, a number of other construction companies are also preparing the groundwork for school buildings in other provinces. Each school will have five classrooms, a teachers' room, and a toilet.

During the presentation ceremony, Mr Chang Myung-Kwan took the opportunity to read out a greeting from the Chairman of Booyoung Co Ltd, Mr Lee Joong-keun, who unfortunately was unable to be in Laos on this occasion.

The message said: “The company's present donation is a follow-up to the past donation of 28,000 blackboards aimed at promoting Lao children's education across the country.”

The Booyoung Co Ltd reaffirmed the provision of future assistance for education related activities in Laos . The company has also expressed its willingness to explore investment opportunities in various economic sectors of the country.

Mr Chang Myung-Kwan said this kind of effort would help to strengthen relations between Laos and the Republic of Korea .

Mr Somsavat expressed his profound appreciation for the generous donation and hoped that the company would continue assisting Laos , not only in the field of education, but also in rural development and poverty reduction.

He said Mr Lee was a generous man who wanted to help poor children get access to education. The government would create favourable conditions for the company to invest in Laos in various sectors.

The company pledged its assistance in building 100 primary schools during a visit by Mr Somsavat to the Republic of Korea in March.

So far, the company has donated more than US$20 million to buy blackboards for primary schools in Laos , Vietnam and Cambodia , and an additional US$2 million to develop various public facilities.

During the ceremony, Mr Somsavat, who is also the Honorary Chairman of the Foundation for Promoting Education, handed over a cheque worth US$7,500, the equivalent of 30 percent of the total construction cost of US$25,000 to the General Manager of the DM Construction Company, Mrs Douangta Matmanisone, who was awarded the contract to build the first primary school in Khammuan province.

By vientiane times

Posted by samakomlao on 10:09 PM. Filed under Booyoung Co Ltd, Chang Myung-Kwan, Donation, high school, Laos, mobile vientiane, Somsavat, South Korea . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Feel free to leave a response