Ministry of Education and Sports and Australia celebrate their long-standing partnership in advancing primary education at the 10th Anniversary of the BEQUAL Program

Minister Phout Simmalavong highlighted the impact of this partnership: “The support and professional development provided to teachers through BEQUAL has made a real difference. We have seen educators empowered to provide quality education in the classroom, and it is the students and their families who benefit from this commitment.”

Over the past ten years, BEQUAL has supported the Lao Government to make significant strides in inclusive access and learning. Initiatives like the Spoken Lao Program for non-Lao speaking children demonstrated that dedicated resources and high-quality training makes a real difference to the school experience of ethnic minority girls and boys. As a key partnership milestone, the Spoken Lao approach became national policy in 2024.

Looking ahead, Minister of Education and Sports highlighted the challenges facing the education, science and sports sector: “As we look to the future, we recognise the education landscape is constantly evolving, and we face new challenges. Teacher shortages are a pressing concern, making continuing professional development more important than ever. Increasing school enrollment rates and reducing the school dropouts are necessary. Australia and development partners’ continued support is essential in helping us provide a high-quality education and accessed by all children.”

In response, Ambassador Megan Jones reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to supporting Lao PDR in addressing these priorities: “Teacher shortages and student retention are pressing issues. Together, by continuing to invest in teacher development and education quality, we can help create a more resilient and responsive education system for the future.”

The partnership between Australia and the Ministry of Education and Sports of Lao PDR has already achieved significant milestones, but the journey continues. The commitment to strengthening the education system remains strong, ensuring every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential. The 10th anniversary of BEQUAL marks both a celebration of past achievements and a reaffirmation of a shared commitment to a prosperous future built on quality education in Lao PDR.