Children at school in Luangprabang. Photo: UNICEF Lao PDR

The Ministry of Education and Sport chairs the Education Sector Working Group. Australia and the European Union are Co-Chairs. 

At the policy level, the major focus throughout 2015 was on developing the Education Sector Development Plan (ESDP) 2016-20 and updating the Education Law. The ESDP 2016-20 was based on an agreed Theory of Change, with 11 outcomes supporting the overall goal.

These outcomes are consistent with the internationally agreed fourth Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) which focuses on education quality improvements. A comprehensive financing plan to cost the ESDP 2016-20 was also developed.

Sub-Sector Working Groups

The Education Sector Working Group includes six Sub-Sector Working Groups:

• Early Childhood Education
  Chair – Department of Early Childhood Education, Ministry of Education and Sport, Co-Chairs – UNICEF, Save the Children International Laos
• General Education
  Chair – General Education Department, Ministry of Education and Sport, Co-Chairs – UNICEF, Save the Children International Laos
• Post Secondary Education
  Chair – Department of Inspection, Ministry of Education and Sport, Co-Chair – Asian Development Bank
• Education and Sports Management
  Chair – Department of Inspection, Ministry of Education and Sport, Co-Chairs – European Union, JICA
• Education Research
  Chair – Research Institute for Education and Science, Co-Chairs – World Bank, Plan International
• Sports
  Chair – Lao Coordination Committee for National Olympic Sports

SWG Secretariat Contacts

• Mr. Khamfong Sommala, Head of Project Management Division, Department of Planning, MoES, Tel: 020 22207972
• Ms. Katie Smith, First Secretary-Development Cooperation, Australia Embassy, Tel: 021 353800 Ext: 142
• Ms. Chindavanh Vongsaly, Programme officer, European Union, Tel: 021 255575