Vientiane: Throughout October 2025, the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES), with support from the Australian Government through the Basic Education Quality and Access in the Lao PDR (BEQUAL) program, is delivering a series of workshops on Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Management for District Education and Sports Bureau (DESB) staff.
According to Lao News Agency, Ms. Khampat Xayalinkham, Deputy Director General of the Department of Teacher Education (DTE), stated that these workshops are part of a broader capacity-building initiative aimed at equipping DESB staff with the skills and knowledge needed to effectively plan and manage teacher CPD in their districts. The training sessions build on previous technical inputs delivered with the support of Australia through the BEQUAL program.
Ms. Vanessa Hegarty, First Secretary at the Australian Embassy, highlighted Australia’s close collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Sports in Lao PDR to strengthen the teacher CPD system and enhance support available to teachers. She emphasized the importance of this assistance in maintaining teacher motivation and improving teaching quality amid current teacher shortages, ultimately contributing to better learning outcomes for students.
Over 380 participants from 30 targeted DESBs across seven provinces-Phongsaly, Luang Namtha, Bokeo, Houaphan, Xiangkhouang, Khammouane, and Savannakhet-are involved in the workshops, which are organized into thirteen groups. Key participants include directors, deputy directors, pedagogical support staff, and monitoring and evaluation staff from each DESB. The workshops are conducted by the DTE, with facilitators from the seven Provincial Education and Sports Services and three targeted Teacher Training Colleges: Luang Namtha, Khang Khai, and Savannakhet.
The five-day workshops cover various topics designed to enhance the DESBs’ capacity to plan and manage CPD activities effectively. Participants learn to use monitoring data to identify teacher support needs and address them through targeted CPD planning. The workshops also explore strategies for supporting school principals in fostering an environment that encourages teacher engagement in professional development. Additionally, discussions focus on how gender, age, and hierarchical dynamics within schools affect motivation and participation in CPD. Ms. Khampat further explained that sessions will also concentrate on gender, inclusive education, and child protection, aiming to enhance DESB staff’s understanding of inclusive education’s significance in Lao PDR’s primary schools.
Ms. Vanessa expressed her satisfaction with the workshops’ focus on inclusive education and child protection, emphasizing the critical role teachers play in safeguarding all students, particularly those who are disadvantaged. The training ensures that DESB staff supporting teachers are equipped to promote and implement child protection and safeguarding both inside and outside the classroom, a priority for Australia’s support of the Ministry of Education.
Following the workshops, DESB staff will be encouraged and supported to apply their new skills in managing school-based teacher CPD. BEQUAL, in collaboration with MoES at both central and subnational levels, will conduct monitoring and support visits to DESBs throughout the 2025-26 academic year. It is anticipated that DESBs will begin applying components of this training, along with insights from previous capacity-building initiatives, to enhance teacher CPD planning and management, ultimately contributing to improved teaching quality and student learning outcomes.