The Awareness Change Towards Secondary Education in Rural Minority Villages in Lao PDR

Abstract

This study aims to investigate how awareness of secondary education in rural minority villages of Lao PDR has changed, as well as to examine how the local government is working to create a unique learning style for out-of-school children and youth. 

The primary methodologies employed in this study were semi-structured interviews. Interviewees were local government staff of the district education office, teachers, villagers, and out-of-school youth. As an analytical framework, coding techniques were adopted, and the words that were frequently and repeatedly emphasized within the interviews were employed as empirical evidence.

The findings of the study are as follows: First, many students have dropped out of secondary education, and awareness of education has tended to decline. The main causes of this phenomenon are ongoing inflation, trends in migrant labor, and a mismatch in learning content. Second, it was found that the local government was working with international organizations to provide degree certification programs and long-term vocational training. However, local demand and interest for these educational opportunities were low, as people prioritized earning immediate income over pursuing education. Evidence from the field interviews indicates that strategically responding to local needs and re-examination of educational options are required. Therefore, providing short-term vocational education programs and considering a curriculum that integrates vocational skills into secondary education are suggested to raise educational awareness.