Lao

With an overall literacy rate of only 57 percent in Lao PDR, nonformal education plays an important role. Administered by the Department of Nonformal Education in the Ministry of Education, nonformal education is targeted to serve illiterates, school-age children who are not able to study in formal schools, and school dropouts who wish to increase their level of education. To enhance nonformal education, community learning centers, jointly financed by the central government and local communities have been introduced; nearly 170 have been established around the country.