Buddhist Education

Abstract

This chapter covers the Buddhist education system in Lao PDR. For a brief historical overview of the education system in Laos, see Chap. 1. For an in-depth discussion of education policy, see Chap. 2. Section 10.2 of this chapter provides a brief general history of Buddhist education from the pre-historical and pre-colonial periods to the colonial period beginning in 1893 to Independence in 1954, the Revolution in 1975, and the post-Revolutionary period to the present. It concludes with an overview of the structure of the Lao Buddhist education system as it is today, beginning with the temple schools, Pali schools, Buddhist High Schools, and Buddhist training institutions. It covers the origin of the two Sangha Colleges—the Sangha College of Vientiane (SCV) and the Sangha College of Champasack (SCC).