BEQUAL Phase 1 commenced in 2015. It is a program led by the Ministry of Education and Sports, with support from the Australian Government. Technical staff is deployed at central and sub-national levels to help the Ministry implement the program with a focus on primary curriculum development, teacher professional development and integration of gender and inclusive education principles and practices.
Until August 2020, additional budget was provided by the European Union for all activities and until September 2019, the United States Agency for International Development provided funding for the production and the distribution of educational materials and learning and teaching resources for grade 1 and 2.
Between 2015 and 2018, additional support was provided by UNICEF, the World Food Program and through Non-Government Organisations (NGOs), especially Plan International, WorldVision, Save the Children and ChildFund through the BEQUAL NGO Consortium (BNC)
The Ministry of Education and Sports is the leading Government agency of BEQUAL. The Ministry’s education vision to 2030 is to “create opportunity for all Lao population to have equitable education access with a focus on education quality development”. BEQUAL has been closely aligned to ESDP 8 and ESSDP 9.
Australia is the largest bilateral donor to basic education in Lao PDR. BEQUAL is Australia’s flagship program in Lao PDR with an overall budget of AUD AU$80,300,672 for Phase I May 2015-June 2022.