In Lao People’s Democratic Republic, many children struggle to develop foundational literacy and numeracy skills. Without a strong foundation, it becomes difficult to progress through the education system, which results in many children dropping out before secondary school. Targeted support is key to ensuring that the most disadvantaged children are not left behind. Efforts to support girls’ transition to, and retention in, lower secondary education are a key part of addressing learning disparities linked to gender, socioeconomic status and ethnicity.