Governance communication and school development in rural and remote areas of Lao PDR

This paper contributes to the current body of knowledge on development communication, governance and education management by testing a typology of governance communication on school-based management. It applies the ideal type features of public governance communication at the community level in the case of school construction in rural and remote areas of Lao PDR. It answers the question: Are the features of community governance communication present in community-based school construction and maintenance? It sought to: determine features of community governance communication within the school construction and maintenance model; assess how governance communication is operationalized in rural and remote communities in Lao PDR; and establish the functions of governance communication in community-based school construction and management. The study was conducted in the provinces of Phonsaly, Luang Namtha, Attapeu and Xekons, specifically in the districts of Samphan, Gnot Ou, Nalae, Viengphouka, Long, Sanxay, Phouvung, Dakcheung, and Khaleum. Data on thirty villages under these districts were gathered. Key informant interviewees and FGD [focus group discussion] participants totally 120 were likewise conducted. The study found that public governance communication at the community level was operationalized as: having the provision of basic services as its goal; having village development councils, NGOs [nongovernment organizations], community/mass organizations and communities as the primary stakeholders; possessing the core values of social capital formation, transparency and community participation; using educational services as its strategic thrust; employing interpersonal communication, community media and social mobilization as media and methods; and making use of community cohesion and community action as its key messages. The study empirically validates the features of community governance communication as provided in the proposed typology.