Spoken Lao lessons are specifically designed to help non-Lao speaking students develop their speaking and listening skills in Lao.

On 24 November 2025, Mr. Outhit Thipmany, Deputy Director General, officially opened the “Spoken Lao Grade 2 Introductory Session and Scoping Workshop”. The event brought together 19 script writers and editors from the Research Institute of Educational Sciences (RIES) and other MoES departments, as well as technical experts from the BEQUAL program.

Mr. Outhit Thipmany said, “Since 2019, MoES and Australia have worked closely to strengthen Lao language skills for students who start school not yet able to speak Lao. The Spoken Lao materials were thoroughly tested in several provinces before being rolled out nationally last year, and the results were very positive. This approach helps students who are not yet competent speakers of Lao improve their communication skills in a fun and effective manner. This enables them to learn and participate in classroom activities. I am honoured to chair the workshop marking the launch of the Grade 2 development process, and I would like to thank Australia for their continued support.”

Spoken Lao lessons are specifically designed to help non-Lao speaking students develop their speaking and listening skills in Lao.

“Spoken Lao is transforming the learning experience of thousands of children across urban, rural, remote, and disadvantaged areas,” emphasized Ms Vanessa Hegarty, First Secretary at the Australian Embassy. “Australia is proud to support this initiative in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, as it promotes inclusive education and ensures that every child, regardless of their language background, has the opportunity to learn, thrive, and shine in school. Our shared goal is simple: no child should be left behind.”

Spoken Lao lessons are designed to help non-Lao speaking students develop their speaking and listening skills. Research shows that speaking and understanding a language first is essential before children can learn to read and write well. By focusing only on oral skills, students gain confidence without pressure from reading or writing tasks. Strong speaking and listening skills also make learning to read and write easier because letters, words, and sentences have meaning for students. The Spoken Lao lessons are aligned with the Lao Language curriculum so that students learn the sounds, words, grammar, and communication skills needed across all subjects.

The workshop marks the start of the development of Spoken Lao lessons from Grade 2.

Mr. Outhit Thipmany added, “This is crucial because students who struggle to understand the language risk falling behind or even dropping out. When children can’t follow what’s said in class, it’s easy for them to lose interest. Spoken Lao gives these students a real chance to keep up and succeed.”

Over 10 days, until 5 December, the curriculum writing, design, and layout teams from RIES will work on designing the Grade 2 Spoken Lao curriculum. They will review what worked in Grade 1, identify areas to improve, and determine the best strategies for developing effective materials. By the end, they will have a clear plan outlining the Grade 2 lessons.

The workshop will be highly hands-on and interactive. Members of the Grade 1 team will demonstrate actual lessons, with participants taking on the role of non-Lao speaking Grade 1 students to experience the approach firsthand. Participants will also explore a range of language learning methods and activities while strengthening their understanding of international research and best practice.

19 script writers and editors from MoES, Australian Embassy representative and BEQUAL experts joined the workshop.

The development process will follow the successful method used previously, with BEQUAL experts providing technical support to the RIES curriculum team through workshops on planning, writing, trialling, revising, and designing materials. The new Grade 2 resources are planned for nationwide rollout in the 2027–2028 school year. Australia will continue providing technical and financial support, while MoES will seek funding from the national budget or development partners for printing and distribution.

Mr. Outhit Thipmany highlighted, “Laos is a richly diverse country, with over 50 languages spoken. Many children in rural and remote areas speak a different language at home. Expanding Spoken Lao to Grade 2 aligns with RIES’s five-year Strategic Development Plan to ensure that non-Lao speaking children receive continued language support as they progress through early education.”

BEQUAL is a program led by the Lao Government with support from the Australian Government and the United States Government. The program focuses on improving educational outcomes for the nation’s youth, especially the vulnerable and disadvantaged, and promotes gender equality and inclusive education across all activities.

KPL