A/HRC/41/39/Add.4 non-wage recurrent support is inadequate; avoiding greater reliance on external sources will mean dropping initiatives that do not align with sector priorities or are fiscally unrealistic. Addressing non-performance in teachers: this issue contributes directly to the low-level of student performance 60 and requires technical and financial support. To recruit and retain quality teachers, Lao PDR will implement skills upgrading and quality assurance. Appropriate human resource policies, such as local area recruitment and salary improvements, will also be required. Strengthening multi-sectoral response to early childhood development and education (ECD/ECE): in view of its impact on school readiness and education outcomes, ECD/ECE needs a holistic approach with health, nutrition, and parenting education. Prioritizing lifelong learning and expanding flexible learning and non-formal education programmes. Providing a bridge into mainstream education and promoting lifelong learning will better prepare Lao PDR for LDC graduation. Given that lifelong learning is a policy priority, the MoES is developing the lifelong learning strategy and plan for Lao PDR, making a multi-sectoral approach the central tenet of the design and implementation of the policy. 50. Para 55 Lao PDR has adopted SDG 18 on unexploded ordnance (UXO). UXO impedes the progress of economic development in Lao PDR, limiting the use of land for agriculture, making infrastructure construction costly and dangerous, and holding back development which cover 15 out of 18 provinces in the country. More than 40 years after the end of war, an estimated 80 million cluster submunitions remain unexploded. Therefore, the Prime Minister of Lao PDR H.E. Mr. Thongloun Sisoulith and UN Secretary-General Mr. Ban Kimoon formally launched the country’s SDG 18 (“Lives Safe from UXO”) on 7 September 2016 in Vientiane. In this regard, the Lao government recognizes that poverty eradication is and always has been a goal and a basic right of all people. A number of relevant and key initiatives/programmes have been put into action for the socio-economic development for the whole country. Therefore, the Government of the Lao PDR expresses political will and commitment to narrow the development gap among people to reduce poverty. 51. Para 57 The word “blunt policies” is not suitable to be used in this report as it does not reflect or represent to the real situation of all groups of people living in rural areas of the Lao PDR. The Lao Government regards the development and reduction poverty as the priority work of the Government in order to lift up the country out of the least development status and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals “SDGs”. In achieving this the Government has adopted the 5-year Rural Development and Poverty Eradication’s Plan(2015-2020), the strategic plan on rural development and poverty eradication 2016-2025 and the 2030 strategic plan and currently the Government is implementing the 8th five year National Socio-Economic Development Plan (2016-2020). In addition, the Government has also promulgated and adopted laws and regulations which aim to support and lift the living conditions of rural people, including the Law on Resettlement and Occupation, amending the previous Decree No 309/Gov on the Criteria of Poverty and Development, to a new Decree No. 348/Gov on the Criteria for Poverty Graduation and Development. According to the Prime Minister’s Decision No 65, the Government has defined the development priority of focus areas under the local authorities (2018-2020), presently there are 449 focus areas throughout the country. The Government has invested substantially in rural development and poverty reduction throughout the country. The implementation of the projects were conducted by the line ministries concerned at central, provincial and the district level. 11