ພາສາລາວ
Filming opening with representatives from Faculty of Engineering, PESS Vientiane Capital, Australian Embassy, DESB, and volunteer actors
This episode focuses on motivating girls to pursue secondary education
This week, the Ministry of Education and Sports of Lao PDR (MoES), with support from the Australian Government through the BEQUAL program, started filming the third episode of their innovative national education promotion campaign. Led by the Research Institute of Educational Sciences (RIES) under MoES, the campaign aims to inspire the community and transform perceptions and attitudes towards education across Laos.
Mr. Souksakhone Sipaseuth, Director of Information Media Center highlighted the campaign’s goals: “Our goal is to showcase the immense value of education and the crucial role teachers play in shaping Laos’ future. Right now, our education system faces several challenges: students are leaving school early because they don’t see its benefits. There is a prevailing belief that education doesn’t guarantee employment. Parents, who themselves might have limited schooling experience, share those doubts. If unaddressed, this could lead to a generation with limited skills, fewer job opportunities and slower economic growth. This is why, with the invaluable support of Australia, we launched this campaign to promote education. This third video especially encourages students to continue their study beyond primary school, and places special emphasis on the sciences.”
Ms Vanessa Hegarty, First Secretary, Australian Embassy, explained the campaign’s core purpose: “We are tackling the critical issue of declining school attendance and growing parental doubts about the value of education. Through authentic storytelling and active community involvement, we want to motivate young people to stay in school and help parents recognise the lifelong advantages education provides. The Australian Government is honoured to provide financial and technical support to the Ministry to produce this series of four compelling videos designed to shift mindsets around education.”
Mr. Chankhachone Sonemanivong, Vice Dean, Faculty of Engineering welcomes the Ministry’s team to film the video titled The Dream
Mr. Souksakhone Sipaseuth, Director of Information Media Center, IMC, introduces the Education Promotion Campaign and the new video
The campaign’s first two episodes, “Two Paths” and “Teacher’s Value” were warmly received upon their release last month. “Two Paths” presents contrasting futures shaped by education choices, emphasising how education equips youth with essential skills, critical thinking and opportunities to build meaningful lives. The second video, “Teacher’s Value,” honours the dedication of teachers and the profound influence they have on children’s futures.
The newest video being filmed this week, “The Dream” narrates the heartfelt journey of a young girl who writes to her poor parents, pleading with them to support her to continue her education. Driven by her ambitious dream, she envisions becoming a scientist, engineer or an inventor, someone who will develop innovations to benefit her community and contribute to the nation’s progress.
Mr. Souksakhone noted “The scientific scenes are filmed at the Faculty of Engineering, which boasts impressive facilities and very well-equipped laboratories. I hope that seeing these images will inspire students to pursue their studies, by making the prospect of continuing education highly attractive.”
Ms Vanessa added “This story’s emotional depth makes it a powerful tool to encourage girls to engage with the sciences. I congratulate the filming and production team for their creative vision to bring this story to life.”
Adding further resonance to the campaign for the young generation, Payengxar Lor, the first Hmong woman to represent Laos at the Miss Universe competition and a passionate education advocate, volunteered to be the narrator of three videos of the campaign including “The Dream”. Payengxar’s deep belief in the power of education to transform lives lends authenticity and warmth to the story, enriching the campaign’s message.
Mr. Souksakhone concluded “Through these compelling stories, the campaign not only celebrates education but also kindles a collective vision for a brighter future, one founded on knowledge, commitment, and hope. I encourage all education actors and media to actively share the videos widely to reach all target audiences and encourage children to stay in school. The Ministry of Education and Sports, together with the Australian Embassy, calls upon all stakeholders to actively disseminate these messages.”
The entire series of videos will be broadcast nationwide on television, shared through social media platforms, and used by National Assembly members for community outreach. In addition, the videos will also be made available to teachers, pedagogical advisors, and education officials to support local advocacy efforts within schools and villages.
IMC filming team at the Sustainable Development Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering
