More than 1,120 educators across Laos are participating in training workshops this month, designed to enhance classroom management and help non-Lao speaking students better understand their lessons. These sessions are targeted at Internal Pedagogical Support (IPS) staff and are taking place in 30 districts, including Savannakhet, Xieng Khouang, Khammouan, Houaphanh, Luang Namtha, Bokeo, and Phongsaly.

The training addresses key challenges such as teaching Lao to students with varying proficiency levels and maintaining an effective learning environment. Notably, 53 percent of the participating educators are women, and 42 percent come from non-Lao speaking backgrounds, reflecting the diverse needs of the education sector.

The initiative is part of the Basic Education Quality and Access in Laos (BEQUAL) program, a collaboration between the Ministry of Education and Sports, the Australian government, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Now in its second phase, BEQUAL is focusing on improving professional development for teachers after an initial phase from 2015 to 2022 that centered on in-service teacher training.

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