The workshop will be chaired by Dr. Lamphoune Laungxay, Director General of Department of Teacher and Educational Administration Development (DTEAD) and Ms Rebecca McHugh, Team Leader of BEQUAL. The inception workshop will bring together participants from the Department of Teacher Development and Education Administration (DTDEA), who is leading the research, Department of General Education and Inclusive Education Promotion Center, Research Institute of Education Sciences, Information Media Center under the Cabinet, the three target Teacher Training Colleges of Luang Namtha, Khang Khay and Savannakhet, education specialists, and organisations of persons with disabilities to confirm the research approach, discuss the tools and timelines, and agree on roles and responsibilities before implementation begins.

The pilot will be carried out in a small sample of primary schools in one district in Xiangkhouang province over the full 2026–2027 academic year. It will focus on 18 students with disabilities, together with their teachers and school communities, to generate practical evidence on how TSP 14 works in real classroom settings and what support teachers need to use it consistently.

Dr. Lamphoune Laungxay said “The pilot marks an important step in turning new inclusive education tools into practical classroom support for teachers. TSP 14 and TDV 29 are now complete and ready to be tested in schools. Together, they will help teachers better recognise when a child may have a disability and use simple, practical strategies to support learning in the classroom. This pilot in Xiangkhouang will help us learn how these tools work in real schools and how we can continue improving support for all learners.”

Ms Rebecca McHugh added “When children with disabilities are given the chance to learn to read, write and build strong foundational skills, they gain the tools they need for the future. These skills help them later find work, contribute to their families and communities, and thrive as active members of society. Australia is proud to support MoES in making inclusive education more practical for teachers and more effective for all learners.”

TSP 14 provides teachers with practical strategies to support students with disabilities in everyday teaching. It brings together simple tools that help teachers notice learning support needs, plan individual support, and adapt classroom teaching in ways that are realistic and easy to use. TDV 29 complements the pack by showing observable classroom behaviours that may suggest a child has a disability and by guiding teachers on how to use the Child Functioning Module Teacher Version. The video is designed to support teachers in making careful observations and taking the next steps to better understand and respond to each child’s learning needs.

The pilot will use a mixed-method, case-based learning design. It will combine classroom observations, teacher forms, learning plans, monitoring data, interviews and focus group discussions to understand how teachers use the tools in practice. The research will also look at parent engagement, referrals, and the support available through school and district systems.

Throughout the year, the pilot will include several rounds of reflection and adaptation so that early lessons can be used to improve implementation as the work progresses. This iterative approach will help MoES and BEQUAL learn not only whether the tools are useful, but also what conditions are needed for them to be used effectively and sustainably.

The research will also help identify which barriers to learning can be addressed through school-based teaching adjustments and reasonable accommodations, and which require broader support such as referrals, assistive technology, rehabilitation or other services.

Ms Rebecca McHugh said “We look forward to learning from the pilot in Xiangkhouang and from the experience of teachers, students and families. This is an important opportunity to strengthen inclusive education through practical tools, shared learning and close partnership. Australia is committed to continue working with MoES so that every child has the chance to succeed at school.”

Dr. Lamphoune Laungxay concluded “We are pleased to launch this Disability Inclusion pilot in Xiangkhouang and to work together with our partners to strengthen inclusive education in Laos. We look forward to the lessons that will come from schools, teachers and communities, and to using this experience to improve support for children with disabilities in the future.”

KPL