Student enrollment numbers decline for three consecutive years

The number of primary and secondary students in public and private schools across Laos has been on the decline for three consecutive school years, spanning from the 2022-2023 school year to the 2024-2025 school year.
This trend was recorded in a statistical report released recently by the Ministry of Education and Sports through the Education Management Information System.
According to the report, the number of primary students nationwide decreased from 741,976 in the 2022-2023 school year to 740,084 in 2023-2024, and continued to decline to 739,554 in 2024-2025.
Similarly, enrollment in lower secondary schools has seen a decrease, dropping from 388,019 students in the 2022-2023 school year to 380,177 in 2023-2024, and falling further to 378,457 in 2024-2025.
At the upper secondary level, the trend is even more pronounced, with the number of students falling from 169,523 in the 2022-2023 school year to 155,147 in 2023-2024, and continuing to decline to 144,050 in 2024-2025.
This consistent decrease in enrollment across education levels has raised concerns about the underlying factors influencing these trends and their potential long-term impact on the country’s education system.
In addition, school enrolment rates at primary and secondary schools in 2024 fell short of targets set by the Ministry of Education and Sports.
In 2024, the enrolment rate for Grade 5 of primary school was 95.5 percent, slightly below the target of 97 percent.
The new enrolment rate for Grade 4 of lower secondary school was only 61 percent, falling short of the target of 64 percent.
The Ministry of Education and Sports highlighted several reasons for schools not achieving the targets set in the 2024 plan.
Investment in human resource development in the education sector remains inadequate, and this is a challenge the education authorities will continue to tackle.
The school dropout and low enrolment rates can be attributed to economic hardship and infrastructure challenges, which compel students and teachers to leave school in search of work, either in Laos or abroad, to support their families.
However, the Ministry of Education and Sports has devised a plan for 2025-2030 to address these issues by enhancing measures in early childhood, primary, and lower secondary education.
For early childhood education, the ministry plans to encourage education for children under one year of age in targeted areas, where the child enrolment rate is below 80 percent, prior to their entry into primary school.
For primary education, the ministry will promote the education of children in target areas with enrolment rates below 70 percent, to keep students in school and encourage them to complete primary school within five years.
To improve lower secondary education, the ministry will prioritise student retention and encourage the completion of lower secondary education within four years in areas with graduation rates below 35 percent.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update March 31, 2025)