Summary of publication
This Mid-Term Review (MTR) is of the $64.4 million Basic Education Quality and Access in Lao PDR (BEQUAL) program which supports the Lao Ministry of Education and Sports in addressing challenges facing primary education in Lao PDR. BEQUAL was designed to be a ten-year (2015-25) investment, with the first phase expected to conclude in August 2020. The program receives financial contributions from the EU (approximately $13.4 million) and USAID (approximately $2.2 million).
The MTR found that the program had made notable achievements in its first two years of implementation and that the Lao Government continued to support it. The MTR recommended DFAT reconsider the purpose and focus of BEQUAL, particularly curriculum development, teacher training and activities on the demand side and geographical focus. The MTR also questioned the program coherence and suggested BEQUAL should proactively work to improve the integration and coherence of program activities in target districts. DFAT has accepted most of the MTR's recommendations.