BEQUAL supports the Ministry of Education and Sports of Lao PDR to improve the teaching skills of primary teachers to achieve better learning outcomes for their students. BEQUAL works in partnership with the Department of Teacher and Educational Administration Development (DTEAD), the Department of General Education (DGE), three targeted Teacher Training Colleges (TTCs), and the Research Institute for Educational Sciences (RIES) to strengthen the capacity of in-service teachers, teacher trainers, and teacher pedagogical support providers.

During Phase 1, BEQUAL supported RIES and Department of Teacher Education (DTE now named DTEAD) with the nationwide implementation of in-service teacher training on the revised primary curriculum. BEQUAL also worked with DTE and TTCs to improve the primary pre-service diploma materials in alignment with the revised primary curriculum.

During Phase 2, BEQUAL is working with DTEAD to support the establishment and implementation of a new school-based, continuing professional development (CPD) system for teachers, providing regular, relevant, flexible and inclusive pedagogical support. TTCs play a leading role in the new system, working in close coordination with District Education and Sports Bureaus (DESBs) and school-level stakeholders. TTCs have a technical lead role in the CPD system, providing pedagogical support directly, and supporting DESB external pedagogical support staff and school-level internal pedagogical support (IPS) providers in their catchment area. DESBs are responsible for planning, management, and quality assurance of CPD system activities to ensure teacher professional development needs are met. IPS staff provide regular and needs-based CPD to teachers at school level to ensure the quality of teaching and learning continues to improve.

During the Phase 2 extension, BEQUAL continues to work with RIES through:

• Policy engagement to consolidate and scale up the school-based CPD system nationwide
• Capacity strengthening of the three target TTCs for teacher pedagogical support
• Capacity building for key CPD stakeholders to support planning and implementation of school-based CPD in 30 target districts
• Development of climate change CPD resources for teachers and pedagogical support providers