Many people in my village speak only their ethnic language and can’t understand Lao. This could become really challenging when they need to communicate with people outside our community.  When sick, they will need to find someone speaking Lao to go to the hospital and help with translation. They will have to pay for transportation and food for the translator. This is one of the many examples why we should encourage and support our children to study Lao language and learn to become independent”

Australia’s new Ambassador to Lao PDR, Mr Jean-Bernard Carrasco, made his first regional visit to Savannakhet Province on 26-28 February. Ambassador Carrasco called on Savannakhet Governor, HE Mr Santiphab Phomvihane, to discuss Savannakhet Province’s economic and social development progress

27th February is World Non-Government Organisation (NGO) Day. Each year, this date is celebrated by communities, leaders, diplomats, and many organisations around the world, acknowledging and promoting the important work of these organisations

Like Noung Gu Lhao, Jue Lee and Por Ju, many children in Lao PDR are not going to school; they are not able to read or write, neither are they able to develop life skills necessary for socialising with friends of their own age. They are not prepared for a better future for themselves and their families

Australia recently conducted a mid-term review of BEQUAL to reflect on progress and lessons learned from the first two years. Interim findings highlight the significant work that has already been undertaken and identify opportunities to ensure our joint efforts continue to reach the most educationally disadvantaged children

Policy guidance is provided by senior personnel from the MoES, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the European Union Delegation through the Program Steering Committee

Effective teachers are crucial for student learning. Trainee teachers need strong orientation in the curriculum they will be delivering, mentoring on how to help children learn in the classroom and sufficient time to practice teaching. However, the curriculum currently used to train teachers is not well aligned with the curriculum used in primary schools and is not sufficiently focused on classroom practice

The learning environment matters in ensuring the safety of young students, their well-being at school and importantly, the quality of the learning and teaching

This richness of diversity also presents a challenge for the primary teachers of the province. The young children of the ethnic groups start school unable to speak Lao. It is difficult for these non-Lao speakers to learn, with instruction, textbooks and educational materials in Lao language