Mr Michael Drabble (left) and Mr Sithong Sikhao co-chair an education project meeting in Vientiane.

Ministry accelerates education reforms ahead of World Bank mission

The Ministry of Education and Sports is intensifying efforts to improve student learning outcomes, centering on the “Read@Home” initiative, school lunch budget preparations, and Continuous Professional Development for teachers.
These core programs are designed to directly enhance the classroom experience and ensure more effective teaching across the country.
To bolster these efforts, the ministry is prioritising the integration of data into the Education Management Information System and preparing for a major assessment of Grade 3 students across 40 districts.
These upcoming assessments are viewed as critical indicators of the project’s overall success in improving literacy and numeracy levels.
Financial transparency remains a high priority, with recent discussions focusing on teacher incentive payments, administrative funds, and procurement processes. Project units have been urged to settle all outstanding budgets from 2025 and 2026.
This push for fiscal efficiency is essential to ensure a smooth transition before the World Bank Implementation Support Mission arrives in early June.
The strategy was finalised during a monthly progress review of the Global Partnership for Education Phase III: Learning and Equity Acceleration Project (GPE III: LEAP) held in Vientiane last week.
Co-chaired by senior ministry officials and World Bank Senior Economist, Mr Michael Drabble, the session addressed challenges in the current work plan to ensure long-term sustainability.
Beyond administrative reforms, progress reports highlighted the construction and renovation of Community Child Development Group classrooms, which are being accelerated to meet strict deadlines.
Mr Drabble praised the commitment of the Implementation Units, noting their dedication to lifting the quality of education nationwide.
The LEAP project remains a cornerstone of the government’s strategy to provide equitable access to quality education for all Lao children.
By resolving current bottlenecks and ensuring financial accountability, the ministry aims to strengthen its partnership with international donors and secure lasting improvements for the nation’s schools.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update May 5, 2026)