“This video aligns with this year’s United Nation Women International Women’s Day theme of “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.”

(KPL) Vice Minister of Education and Sports (MoES),Ms. Daravone Kittiphanh, and Ms. Benita Sommerville, Charge d’affaires, Australian Embassy, co-chaired an event celebrating International Women’s Day on March 4 to raise awareness about the role of education and the media in shaping a more gender-equal future.

Around 70 participants attended the event, including directors from across MoES departments, and directors of major media outlets in the Lao PDR.

Dr. Daravone Kittiphanh, Vice Minister of Education and Sports 

Dr. Daravone said, "International Women's Day is a time to reflect on the ongoing efforts required to achieve gender equality and renew our shared commitment to positive change that benefits all in our society. Gender equality is a key priority in the Government of the Lao PDR’s Education and Sports Sector Development Plan. The Ministry of Education and Sports' media teams and media organizations throughout the country play vital roles in fostering a more progressive and inclusive society while improving outcomes for disadvantaged children. It is my privilege to host today's gathering as we celebrate our recent successes and present our first video promoting gender equality in schools."

Ms. Benita Sommerville, Charge d’affaires, Australian Embassy

Ms. Benita Sommerville said, “Gender equality continues to be a priority for the Australian Government. Last month, Australia’s Foreign Minister launched Australia's new International Gender Equality Strategy, marking our commitment to advancing gender equality and the rights of women across the world, particularly in the Indo-Pacific. But achieving true gender equality requires more than just policies. It demands cultural change, education, and the power of storytelling. That is why Australia is proud to support the Ministry of Education and Sports through the BEQUAL programme, in launching a new gender promotion video today. This initiative highlights the crucial role teachers play in fostering gender equality in the classroom.”

Students learn to collaborate with the opposite gender and respect each other

Aligned with this year’s theme, “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.”, the event culminated in the premiere of the “Gender Equality in the Classroom” video.  This video was produced by the Research Institution of Educational Sciences (RIES) in collaboration with the Ministry’s Division of Advancement of Women, Mothers and Children. The project, initiated in February 2024, combines documentary-style storytelling with innovative animation to deliver its message. Through the personal narratives of two teachers and a specially created animated character symbolizing gender equality, the video illustrates how subtle changes in teaching practices can foster more equitable learning environments. The objectives of the video are to raise awareness about teachers' pivotal role in promoting gender equality, provide practical, implementable strategies for creating inclusive classrooms, and address unconscious gender bias in teaching methods.

Women of the Ministry and Sports'media team actively work at the editing desk of all videosIn the video, the teacher shows how posters and imagery used in the classroom can promote gender equity

Ms. Benita said, “As we celebrate International Women's Day 2025 and reflect on the theme of “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.” we reflect on the first collaboration between MDAW and RIES on video production and encourage continued partnership with other GE&IE topics. Let us reaffirm our commitment to creating a world where all girls and women are empowered, valued and included. By working together to break down barriers and foster diversity, we can build a more equitable and inclusive society for generations to come.”

In the video, the teacher shows how posters and imagery used in the classroom can promote gender equity

Dr. Daravone added, "This initiative represents a crucial step in addressing unconscious gender bias in education. By highlighting authentic classroom experiences and offering practical solutions, we are empowering teachers to become active agents of change."

Camera Women from the Ministry of Education and Sports' media team filming the Gender Equality in the Classroom Video

Ms. Benita Sommerville also congratulated RIES on their approach to promoting gender equality through their video productions. “Over the years, we have seen real progress in how education and media challenge harmful stereotypes and promote inclusion—whether related to gender, disability, or ethnicity. These efforts are commendable and demonstrate the dedication of the RIES video production teams to embedding gender equality and inclusivity at every stage of content creation.”

The women of the Ministry's media team were trained to take up technical roles like filming and sound recording

The RIES media team has made significant progress in promoting gender equality through their media productions. With Australia’s support through the BEQUAL programme, the team received comprehensive training to enhance their technical skills across various domains, including filming, editing, animation, and sound engineering. The training placed particular emphasis on empowering women to take on technical roles behind the camera and at editing stations, moving beyond traditional on-screen roles, such as hosts or actors. The team now also aims to encourage men to step into presenting roles, ensuring more balanced representation. All teams receive training in inclusive scriptwriting and casting, focusing on avoiding stereotypes and ensuring equal representation of men and women. Their content intentionally promotes gender equality by depicting fathers in caregiving roles, and highlighting women’s strengths in professional roles. Casting decisions are made with careful consideration of both gender balance and ethnic diversity, challenging traditional role assignments – for example, the assumption of male principals and female teachers. The result is content that showcases women as leaders while illustrating positive examples of gender cooperation.

The video promote mixed groups of female and male students for all activities

Dr. Daravone concluded by announcing the next video project: “Looking ahead, the event will be followed by a one-and-a-half day training for the MoES media and video production teams on Child Protection and Safeguarding Children – the theme of the next Gender and Inclusive Education video production. This training will be led by the Ministry’s Division for the Advancement of Women, Mothers and Children.”

KPL