Vientiane: Co-chaired by Ms. Manoly Dongvan, Deputy Director General of the Research Institute for Educational Sciences, and Mr. Michael Currie, First Secretary of the Australian Embassy in the Lao PDR, a pivotal conference has convened to enhance early language and literacy development for all children. The event gathers approximately 125 participants from MoES departments, Provincial and District Education and Sports Services, teacher education institutions, teachers, school leaders, NGOs, development partners, and researchers.
According to Lao News Agency, the conference, organized by the Lao Language Research Centre under the Research Institute for Educational Sciences (RIES), addresses the national priority of strengthening basic education as a foundation for human resource development. In Laos, numerous children, particularly in remote and multilingual communities, start school without speaking the language of instruction, posing significant learning barriers from the onset of their Grade 1 education.
Ms. Manoly Dongvan emphasized the importance of ensuring that every child, including those who do not speak Lao when they begin school, has the opportunity to learn and succeed. Mr. Michael Currie highlighted the shared commitment between MoES and Australia towards inclusive education, noting that genuine learning goes beyond mere access to school. Early support in language development for non-Lao speaking children is crucial for their successful progression through primary education.
The conference's keynote address is delivered by Emeritus Professor Joseph Lo Bianco from the University of Melbourne, a leading expert in language and literacy education and language policy. His extensive international experience is instrumental in framing the conference around evidence-based approaches to supporting multilingual classrooms and enhancing language policy and practice.
The conference showcases evidence and experiences from Lao PDR and Vietnam on various aspects such as school readiness, oral language development, and teacher professional development. A highlight includes the presentation on Spoken Lao implementation, a MoES initiative supported by Australia through BEQUAL, demonstrating positive outcomes in oral language skill development.
The conference also features initiatives like the RIES Reading Readiness Program and others from Vietnam and Laos, which underscore practical, evidence-based strategies to help children build robust learning foundations. Through diverse session formats, participants are sharing experiences, identifying solutions, and exploring scalable approaches for the Lao education system.
The event is anticipated to foster a shared understanding of effective teaching practices, shape policy recommendations, and enhance collaboration among education stakeholders. It aligns with broader efforts to improve curriculum, teacher preparation, and learning materials for multilingual contexts, emphasizing the critical nature of supporting non-Lao speaking children as a national development issue.
In closing remarks, Ms. Manoly highlighted the significance of strengthening language and literacy from the start, stating it fortifies the foundation for every child's future and the country's development. Mr. Michael Currie reinforced Australia's commitment to this mission, emphasizing that foundational learning is essential for building Laos' future workforce and contributing to national progress and competitiveness.