Laos and Australia Collaborate to Support Inclusive Education with New Teacher Resource

Vientiane: The Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) of Laos, alongside the Australian Government through the Basic Education Quality and Access in Lao PDR (BEQUAL) program, has completed a pivotal step in launching a new Teacher Support Pack (TSP) aimed at fostering inclusive classrooms. The final photo shoot was recently conducted to capture images illustrating the practical strategies outlined in TSP 14, titled 'Supporting Students with Disability in the Classroom'. This initiative was supported by representatives from the Department of Teacher Education (DTE), the Inclusive Education Promotion Centre (IEPC), and the Vientiane Province's Provincial and District Education Services (PESS). According to Lao News Agency, Assoc. Prof. Ms. Vongdeuane Osay, Director General of the Department of Teacher Education, emphasized that this resource is part of a series developed in response to feedback from educators about the challenges they face. It aligns with MoES's priorities in the forthcoming Education Sector Strategic Development Plan (ESSDP) 2026-2030, which focuses on equipping teachers with strategies to support students with diverse learning needs. The Ministry recognizes the right of all children to quality education, which necessitates skilled teachers capable of supporting students of all abilities. The development of TSP 14 was spearheaded by the Resource Development team at the Savannakhet Teacher Training College, under DTE's supervision, with contributions from Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), International Non-Government Organisations (INGOs), and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs). A key feature of the pack is the Child Functioning Module-Teacher Version, a tool designed to help teachers identify students facing challenges in areas such as attention, communication, and mobility. This tool enables teachers to tailor classroom strategies to meet individual learning needs and can facilitate the creation of Individual Education Plans (IEPs) in collaboration with parents and students. The TSP also provides a directory of support organizations and services for additional assistance. Ms. Vanessa Hegarty, First Secretary at the Australian Embassy, noted the significant barriers children with disabilities face in accessing quality education in Laos. She highlighted the motivation among teachers to adopt effective strategies to overcome these challenges and expressed Australia's commitment to working with MoES, OPDs, and other partners to equip teachers with practical strategies for inclusive education. The TSP offers step-by-step approaches for teachers to include students with various disabilities in classroom activities, even without prior experience. Many of these strategies utilize local materials and require minimal funding, making them accessible for widespread adoption. Following the DTE's approval, TSP 14 will be piloted in 30 districts to evaluate its effectiveness and refine it before a national rollout. Concurrently, RIES video-production teams, with Australian support, will prod uce a Teacher Development Video to demonstrate the use of the Child Functioning Module-Teacher Version and associated strategies.