VIENTIANE, March 20 (Xinhua) -- The Lao government has ordered nationwide adjustments to school operations, reducing the school week from five days to three, as part of emergency measures to ease financial pressure on families amid ongoing fuel price volatility.

According to a notice issued by the Prime Minister's Office on Thursday, the directive introduces immediate changes to learning schedules while maintaining academic standards and signaling additional contingency measures if economic conditions worsen.

The directive requires all general education institutions, both public and private, to reduce in-person classes from five days to three days per week. Schools must still complete the full curriculum, with the academic calendar extended to make up for lost classroom time.

The measure aims to reduce transportation expenses for households while maintaining continuity in education.

The government also outlined escalation measures should fuel-related pressure persist. Institutions with adequate digital infrastructure will transition to remote learning, while those lacking technical readiness may be required to temporarily suspend operations. To support potential online learning, the Ministry of Technology and Communications has been tasked with verifying internet reliability nationwide and assessing the availability of essential equipment.

Officials urged parents, teachers, and students to prepare for immediate implementation, emphasizing the need to balance economic relief with uninterrupted access to education. ■