Adult illiteracy rates are still high in the Lao PDR. Male adult illiteracy (rates for men above 15 years of age) reflects both recent levels of educational enrolment and past educational attainment. Only 40% of the Lao population – 33% of Lao women - completed more than four to six years of education and this average is likely to be lower in rural areas according to the LECS 3 [5] .