Deputy Minister of Education and Sports, Ms Sisouk Vongvichit (R) and U.S. Ambassador to the Lao PDR Heather R. Variava presented Grade 1 and Grade 2 textbooks to Huay SaNgao Primary School, in Vang Vieng District, Vientiane Province on Mar 1

(KPL) Continuing the United States’ support for education in the Lao PDR, on Mar 1 U.S. Ambassador to the Lao PDR Heather R. Variava presented Grade 1 and Grade 2 textbooks to Ms Sisouk Vongvichit, Deputy Minister of Education and Sports at Huay SaNgao Primary School, in Vang Vieng District, Vientiane Province.

The event, attended by more than 100 people, including representatives from the Ministry of Education and Sports (MOES), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vientiane Provincial Governor, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), teachers, and students, marked the launch of the nationwide textbook delivery.

The donation, funded by USAID through the Learn to Read project, includes over 700,000 copies of Grade 1 and Grade 2 Lao language and Grade 2 Science textbooks, along with 122,000 high-quality teacher guides and storybooks. These materials are designed to enhance classroom instruction, teacher training, and community engagement. Learn to Read supports the Ministry to foster a culture of reading among children, ultimately improving the overall quality of basic education in Laos. Special attention is given to children from non-Lao speaking households and those with disabilities.

Deputy Minister, Ms Sisouk highlighted the continued partnership with the United States and USAID. “The Ministry of Education and Sports is thankful for the contribution from the United States in improving reading outcomes for Lao children. Children today will play an important role in the future of the Lao PDR. Helping them learn to read ensures their success in school and in life.”

Ambassador Variava acknowledged the expanding partnership between the United States and Lao PDR in the education sector. “Today’s handover reaffirms our commitment and shared goal, under the U.S.-Laos Comprehensive Partnership, to improve reading outcomes and basic education for all children in Laos, and to promote inclusive education,” said Ambassador Variava.

Learn to Read is a $30 million seven-year program (2018-2025), funded by USAID, implemented by Save the Children, Room to Read, and Humanity & Inclusion. Over the past five years, Learn to Read supported all public schools across 16 target districts in Attapeu, Champasak, Xiengkhouang and Vientiane provinces. The project developed and distributed nearly 1.2 million inclusive and age-appropriate teaching and learning materials to over 61,000 students in 921 schools. Many of these books have also been made available in video format with sign language and voiceover for children with hearing and seeing impairments. Over the next two years, Learn to Read will distribute textbooks directly to 285,000 students across all of Laos’ 18 provinces.

KPL