Lao - Educational System—overview

As a result of French colonial influence, Lao PDR follows a Western academic calendar, September to June. After the success of the revolution in 1975, Lao became the language of instruction at all levels of education. In the current structure of Lao education, primary education is for five years (compulsory), followed by three years of lower secondary, three years of upper secondary, and then three to seven years of postsecondary education, dependent upon the field of study. While children may start primary school at age six, the modal age is actually seven, except for several urban areas. A unified standard national curriculum is used, and the use of modern technology in Lao education is extremely limited.