Laos vs Afghanistan
Side-by-side comparison of how these places approach childhood.
Laos
Lao children in remote villages may only encounter a teacher once per week.
With 49 ethnic groups across mountainous terrain, reaching every child with education is Laos's greatest challenge.
Afghanistan
Since 2021, Afghan girls over 12 are banned from attending school.
The Taliban's return ended two decades of progress in girls' education, affecting 1.4 million secondary-school girls.
Laos
Laos's 5-4-3 system struggles to reach 49 officially recognized ethnic groups across difficult terrain. Primary enrollment is 98% but completion is only 85%. Instruction is in Lao, disadvantaging children from non-Lao speaking ethnic groups.
Afghanistan
Since the Taliban takeover in August 2021, girls above grade 6 are banned from school and women from universities. Boys' education continues but with revised curriculum emphasizing religious studies. Before 2021, enrollment had risen from near-zero for girls to 3.5 million.
Planning a move from Laos to Afghanistan?
Get a personalised Family Integration Playbook โ your parenting style mapped to your destination's culture.
Get your playbook โ $99