Dedication of new school in Houei Kong Cluster in Attapu Province

Date

• 1965

Summary

• On November 19, 1965, Royal Lao Government (RLG) and USAID officials arrived in the Laven village of Houei Kong (L-56, XB 6473) in Attapu Province for the dedication of the new six-room school. Completion of the school was a milestone in the promotion of education in the Houei Kong Cluster IVS/USAID development program. The school was built from wood cut locally by a portable sawmill brought into Houei Kong from Pakxe. With a grade-six school, it was now possible for Nyaheun and Laven students to reach grade six, previously not possible. In this photograph officials arriving at the school grounds are being welcomed by students of the school in a long receiving line. The tall official seen first from the left in a dark suit is the Director of USAID Laos, Joseph A. Mendenhall (USAID Laos Director 1965-1968). The third man from the left wearing a gray suit is the Lao governor of the Province of Attapu. Others include the Primary School Inspector of Attapu Province (seventh from the left) and some military and other RLG officials. The large man in a white shirt is Richard Constantino, USAID Education. The gentleman in a white coat in the right forefront is Nyaheun Naikong Noun, (district chief, equivalent to a chao muang) the RLG official leader of the 42 village cluster of Kong Senamnoi. (Note: Three more rooms were added to the school in 1969.)