Laos Kicks Off 2026-2027 Academic Year with Focus on Education Reform and Digitalization

Vientiane Capital officially opened the 2026–2027 academic year on August 31, with schools across the capital scheduled to begin classes on September 1. The opening ceremony was chaired by Mr. Atsaphangthong Siphandone, Secretary of the Party Committee and President of the Vientiane Capital People’s Council, and attended by education officials, district authorities, and representatives of public and private schools. Vientiane Capital has 1,170 schools. During the 2025–2026 academic year, total enrollment reached 215,833 students, an increase of 2,737 from the previous year. Key priorities for the new academic year include improving teacher allocation and professional development, upgrading school facilities and learning materials, and preparing Grade 6 classrooms for the new 6+3+3 education structure. Authorities will also promote the use of digital technologies through smart classrooms, ICT and science laboratories, while encouraging green schools and ASEAN Eco-Schools. Mr. Atsaphangthong urged school administrators, teachers, and students to strengthen education quality, discipline, and character development, while encouraging parents and schools to work closely to support students’ progress. The Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES), with support from the Australian Government through the Basic Education Quality and Access in Lao PDR (BEQUAL) program, has released 50 new animated audio stories to support the teaching and learning of Spoken Lao in Grade 1 classrooms nationwide. With around 40% of Grade 1 children not yet confident speaking Lao when they start school, the Spoken Lao approach helps them acquire the speaking and listening skills they need for learning. The Lao-German Technical College (LGTC) has announced a full waiver of tuition and other fees for female students enrolling in all majors for the 2026–2027 academic year, in an effort to expand women’s access to vocational education, particularly in technical and industrial fields. The Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES), with the support of the Australian Government through the BEQUAL program, will hold an inception workshop to launch the Research and Learning on Disability Inclusion pilot for Teacher Support Pack 14 (TSP 14) and Teacher Development Video 29 (TDV 29). The video gives teachers practical guidance on how to recognize signs that a student may have difficulties with vision, hearing, mobility, attention, communication, or memory, and how to utilize the Child Functioning Module – Teacher Version correctly. The National University of Laos (NUOL) began entrance examinations for new bachelor’s and associate degree students for the 2026–2027 academic year on August 8, 2026, with 7,867 candidates sitting the examinations.