Vientiane: The Ministry of Education and Sports of Lao PDR (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.
According to Lao News Agency, Director General of the Research Institute for Educational Sciences (RIES) Vongphet Oudomlit stated that MoES and Australia have collaborated closely through the BEQUAL program to enhance Lao language learning for children who begin school speaking a different language at home. Spoken Lao was initially piloted in several provinces before its national expansion in the 2024-2025 school year. Implementation results indicate that Spoken Lao lessons help children speak more confidently, improve understanding, and actively participate in learning. The introduction of new animated audio stories marks a significant step in making learning more engaging and effective for students, as these stories, transformed into audio and animations, cater to the growing reliance on audio and visual content over text alone.
Michael Currie emphasized Australia's strong support for Spoken Lao due to its role in addressing a real equity challenge for children who start school not speaking the language of instruction. Early development of strong language skills enables children to engage better in learning across all subjects, succeed at school, and build a future for themselves and the nation. Australia is proud to support this important initiative in partnership with MoES.
The 50 stories, drawn from the Grade 1 Lao Language textbook and Grade 1 Spoken Lao textbook, cover everyday situations relevant to young learners. The animated audio stories were produced with the collaboration of the Department of Information and News, curriculum developers from RIES, and technical support from BEQUAL, utilizing real voices of young Lao students and adult volunteers to enhance the listening experience.
These resources are versatile, suitable for classroom use or at home. Teachers can incorporate them into lessons to provide authentic language examples, while students can listen independently or with family, helping them build listening skills and confidence in using the Lao language.
Dr. Vongphet Oudomlit highlighted the challenges of teaching a new curriculum and noted that these animated audio tracks offer teachers a practical tool to support students and make lessons more dynamic. The success of Grade 1 materials is guiding the development of Grade 2 resources, set for nationwide use in the 2027-2028 school year, with more audio resources in development to continue building oral language skills.
Michael Currie concluded that the Spoken Lao initiative exemplifies how strong partnerships can yield real results for inclusive education. The program's expansion from a pilot to nationwide reach reflects Australia's commitment to inclusive, quality education for all children in Lao PDR and aligns with the goal of ensuring no child is left behind, regardless of language background, location, or family situation.
