Vientiane: The Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES), in partnership with the Australian Government through the BEQUAL programme, convened the TTC-PESS bi-annual meeting in Vientiane, focusing on strengthening the school-based Continuing Professional Development (CPD) system for teachers.According to Lao News Agency, the meeting, held on March 31 and April 1, brought together 86 delegates, including representatives from various education departments, the Australian Embassy, development partners, Provincial Education and Sports Services (PESS), Teacher Training Colleges (TTCs), and the BEQUAL team. The discussions centered on evaluating the CPD system's recent implementation and devising detailed plans for the upcoming two and a half years as BEQUAL transitions into Phase 2.Mr. Phetmany Silathmina, Deputy Director General of the Department of Teacher Education, highlighted the collaborative efforts: "With the support of the Australian Government, we have established a school-based CPD system that is rele vant to teachers' needs, systematic, flexible, and inclusive of stakeholders at all levels." The meeting aimed to review progress, share insights from the first semester of the 2025-26 school year, and agree on practical steps to enhance the implementation over the next phase.Ms. Rebecca McHugh, BEQUAL Team Leader representing the Australian Embassy, emphasized the importance of sustained professional support for teachers, particularly in disadvantaged areas. The CPD system offers regular advice, classroom visits, co-teaching, feedback, and follow-up guidance, with training and resources adapted to local challenges. She reinforced Australia's commitment to working closely with MoES to improve learning outcomes.The meeting showcased significant results from the CPD activities, with teachers reporting increased confidence and improved teaching practices. Schools noted stronger student participation and socio-emotional learning. During the first semester of 2025-26, IPS teams facilitated 33,609 CPD activitie s across 30 target districts, supporting 6,930 primary teachers. The collaboration received 9,728 support visits from TTCs and DESBs, with nearly 1,699 classroom observations conducted.The discussions also highlighted the growing support from development partners for the CPD approach, indicating potential for nationwide expansion beyond Australian funding. Participants endorsed the TTC-PESS annual workplan for 2026-27 and finalized implementation plans for April to September 2026.Mr. Phetmany Silathmina noted the positive impact of regular, school-based CPD on teaching practices and student engagement. Ms. Rebecca McHugh reaffirmed Australia's support in scaling the CPD system to reach teachers in remote areas, aiming to enhance learning outcomes across the Lao PDR.Future efforts will focus on maintaining momentum, with target TTCs and PESS utilizing endorsed workplans to continue delivering school-based CPD. MoES and development partners will coordinate closely to scale the system nationwide, aligning resources and strengthening data collection. Key actions include rolling out teaching and learning resources and integrating Phase 2 research and learning activities into TTC-PESS workplans.Mr. Phetmany Silathmina concluded, "This meeting demonstrates strong Australia-MoES collaboration to improve teaching quality. Together, we are expanding from target districts to nationwide implementation, supporting teachers and improving learning outcomes for children across the country."