Educational Disparities of Ethnic Minorities in Lao PDR with Comparative Cases from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand

The aim of this thesis has been to explore and systematize the factors and influences, gendered perspectives, and interrelationships in educational equality in Lao PDR with comparative perspectives from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. The effects of ethnic minority cultures and linguistics, socio-economics, governmental policy, and national and local infrastructure have been analyzed using social and human capital theories through social constructivism. As this thesis will show, teacher salaries, all-season road access, and linguistic differences, imbedded in these areas have prevented educational equality and hindered nationalistic agendas aimed at creating stronger states through weak infrastructure and lack of capacity to implement government policies. That has hindered the socioeconomic opportunities and educational attainments of ethnic minorities, especially women, in Lao PDR, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. Thus, the social and human capital of ethnic minorities have the potential to grow and provide better educational equality along with achieving nationalistic agendas of economically stronger states by addressing the interrelated issues discussed in this thesis