Laos trims school week, eyes remote learning fallback

Laos has ordered schools nationwide to cut in-person classes from five to three days a week, as part of emergency measures aimed at easing financial pressure on families amid continued fuel price volatility.

A notice issued by the Prime Minister’s Office on Thursday said the directive takes immediate effect, introducing changes to learning schedules while requiring schools to maintain academic standards.

According to Xinhua News Agency, under the order, all general education institutions, both public and private, must reduce classroom teaching to three days per week.

Schools are still required to complete the full curriculum, with the academic calendar extended to compensate for reduced classroom time.

The policy is intended to lower transportation costs for households while ensuring continuity in education.

The government also outlined escalation steps should fuel-related pressures persist. Schools with sufficient digital capacity will shift to remote learning, while those without adequate infrastructure may face temporary closures.

The Ministry of Technology and Communications has been tasked with assessing nationwide internet reliability and the availability of essential equipment to support potential online education.

Officials called on parents, teachers and students to prepare for immediate implementation, stressing the need to balance economic relief with uninterrupted access to education.

Further contingency measures could be introduced if economic conditions deteriorate.