Tag Archives: Laos

According to collegesanduniversitiesinusa, Laos has a long and complex educational history, shaped by political and economic shifts throughout the years. During the French colonial period, education in Laos was heavily influenced by French educational models. The primary language of instruction was French, and most students studied the same curriculum as in France. This system of education was largely exclusive to those with access to wealth and privilege, and few Laotians were able to access higher levels of education during this time. From 1949 onwards, Laos underwent a series of political changes as part of the Cold War. In 1960, the government implemented a new education policy which aimed to provide universal access to basic education for all Laotians. Primary schooling became free and compulsory for all children aged 7-14, while secondary schooling began to be offered at both public and private schools. In 1975, following the establishment of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (LPDR), the government adopted a new socialist-oriented educational model which focused on providing equal opportunities for all citizens regardless of class or gender. The primary language of instruction shifted from French to Lao, and technical training courses were introduced in order to equip workers with skills that would be useful in an industrialised economy. In recent years, Laos has seen significant improvements in its educational infrastructure as well as increased investment from international organisations such as UNESCO and UNICEF. Education remains free at all levels up until university level; however there are still disparities between rural areas where access is limited due to lack of resources or qualified teachers compared with urban areas where access is more readily available. Overall, Laos’s educational system has undergone major changes over the years due to political unrest as well as increasing international pressure for greater access to quality education across all levels. Despite this progress however there remain significant challenges ahead if Laos is going to continue its move towards becoming an educated nation that can compete on an international level. Laos is a landlocked country located in the heart of Southeast Asia. It is bordered by Vietnam, China, Cambodia, Thailand and Burma, and is one of the least developed countries in the world. In 2009, Laos was a one-party socialist republic led by the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP). It had been under communist rule since 1975 when it declared independence from France. In 2009, Laos was in a unique geopolitical situation due to its close proximity to a variety of large powers. To its east lay Vietnam, which had been an ally since 1975 and maintained close political and economic ties with Laos. To its west lay China, with whom Laos had maintained good relations since 1979 despite their ideological differences. In addition to these two major powers, Laos also bordered Thailand and Cambodia to its south and Burma to its north-west; both of which had begun to move towards more democratic governance in recent years. The geopolitical situation of Laos was further complicated by its relationship with the United States. The US had long been wary of communist rule in Southeast Asia and sought to prevent it from spreading further into the region. As such, they imposed economic sanctions on Laos during the 1980s which lasted until 2008 when they were finally lifted following an improvement in diplomatic ties between both countries. At a regional level, Laos was actively involved in various multilateral organisations such as ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and ACMECS (Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy). These organisations sought to promote economic cooperation between their members as well as serve as forums for resolving regional issues peacefully. Overall, Laos’s geopolitical situation in 2009 was highly complex due to factors such as its proximity to multiple large powers as well as US sanctions that had recently been lifted. Furthermore, it also faced challenges at a regional level due to tensions between some members of ASEAN and ACMECS over unresolved issues such as territorial disputes or illegal fishing activities within their waters. Despite these challenges, Laos was committed to maintaining positive relations with its neighbours and actively participated in regional organisations to promote peace and development. Check mathgeneral for Laos in 2017.