Hmong Studies Journal (Dec 2022)
Education Access and Continuity in Northern Laos: – A Comparative Study of the Hmong and Lanten Minorities
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the access to school education of the Hmong and Lanten ethnic minority groups in Northern Laos and to examine the continuity of education in these populations. More specifically, the investigation probed when and why many children from these groups tend to withdraw from formal education or never enter it in the first place. Finally, the results obtained from a comparative qualitative analysis were evaluated to contemplate interventions that could help to eliminate the prevalence of outof-school children. In order to achieve these aims, field research was conducted in both Hmong and Lanten villages in 2020. The first key finding includes the unique characteristics and differential causes of OOSCY(Out-of-School Children and Youth) in each village. Previous research on OOSCY tended to lump all ethnic minorities together; however, this study has been able to identify particular features, such as in the Hmong village, that in addition to poverty and tough geographical conditions impacted continuing to secondary education, these factors included early marriage. The second key finding is the importance of grasping the specific time and reasons for dropping out. From certain cases in the Lanten villages, one can discern a pattern of the ages and grades at which students drop out of school. Thus, dropping out could be prevented by providing suitable assistance in these specific grades. In conclusion, investigating the chronology of the discontinuation of education and the generation of appropriate intervention strategies grounded in enrollment patterns would be a worthwhile endeavor.
