A Conference on Early Grade Reading

Save the Children International with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and Ministry of Education and Sports organized a conference on early grade reading on January 31, 2019. The conference was part of the second phase of Learning and Engaging All in Primary Schools (LEAPS II) funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). 

The theme of the conference was “All Lao Children Learn and Love to Read”. The conference shared results, challenges and lessons learnt in literacy programming in Lao PDR and provided a platform for dialogue amongst the various education stakeholders to share their experiences in promoting early grade reading and to bring the reading agenda to the national level.

Reading is very important for children as it serves as the foundation for further learning in school and in life. At the conference, field, national and regional experiences and challenges were shared to support the government to strengthen program and policy to improve reading skills of Lao children. Local children’s book publishers also presented a selection of their books for young children. 

Mr. Banchong Ladthavarn, the Deputy Director General of the Department of General Education, Ministry of Education and Sports, chaired the conference with co-chairs from Save the Children International and CRS. This conference is the latest in a series of conferences on reading that Save the Children has been organizing in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Sports. The conferences aim to bring together the stakeholders who are working to improve literacy outcomes for all children in Lao PDR.

Mr. Talat Mahmud, the Head of Education Sector for Save the Children in Laos remarked, “Being able to read is the foundation for learning for children. This conference was a great opportunity for the various actors working in early grade reading to share their experiences in order to improve literacy outcomes for all Lao children. Save the Children is very proud to be working with our partners on this.”

For more information, please contact thasphorn.butasing@savethechildren.org or amrit.misra@savethechildren.org