Early Childhood Education in Cambodia : Parenting Education in 21st Century Department of Early Childhood Education Ministry of Education Youth and Sport CAMBODIA

Contents History of Cambodia ECE services Data on Children Under 6 years old in Cambodia Parenting Education Program PARENTING EDUCATION: Mission and Vision Parenting Education in 21st Century Challenges and ways forward

History Context of Cambodia War between 1975 – 1979 ZERO

ECE Services : 4 Public Pre-School (1980 – just a few in Phnom Penh) Now around 3000 schools Data Collection on Parenting Education Program Community Pre-School (1992) Now 2832 schools Home-Based Program (2000) – Far from Rural Area that can’t access to Pre-School Program Core parents Private Pre-School 392 private pre-schools

Data on Children Under 5 Years Old Research from CDHS on children under 5 Shows that 32% are stunted 24% are underweight 10% are wasted Malnutrition is considered the underlying cause of 45% of all child deaths (2014) CDHS = Cambodia Demographic and Health Survey

Parenting Education Program… Started in 2015 13 modules Operation Manual M&E Apply to All services, except Private Pre-School

What is Parenting Education Program in Cambodia? PEP is basically transformed from Home-Based Program Vision: Increase the number of parents participating in parental education programs by 2018 and the number of children who are able to access healthcare services as needed by 2018; Reduce domestic violence malnutrition, maternal and infant mortality rates.

WHY PARENTING EDUCATION?? First 5 years of life – most critical period to lay foundation for human + social development Parental education is crucial to improve child nutrition and reduce infant mortality. Improved health leads to improved learning outcomes. Improved learning outcomes lead to sustainable development and economic growth.

21st century Education?? Cognitive Skills Non Cognitive Skills

“Educated parents can have a transformative power : Parenting classes and parental awareness training have a high impact on child development” (Minister of Education of Cambodia, ARNEC 2017) 13 Modules Module 1: The right of child to comprehensive care Module 2: Conception and pregnancy care, Post prenatal care, Child development monitoring and nutrition Module 3: Health status, general heath and prevention Module 4: Hygiene and Environment Module 5: Play and child development Module 6: Child behavior and control Module 7: Child protection, identification of domestic violence and intervention

Module 8: Communication and child development Module 9: Injuries and prevention Module 10: Health service and utilization Module 11: Children with disability, delayed, care and intervention Module 12: Preparation for schooling Module 13: Non communicable disease, prevention and parental health care

Technology No in Program Yes in Management Kids in City are attached to their iPad (Depend on family Situation) Program to be improved for a proper usage to technology

Challenges Assure routine parental education sessions – core mothers have too many tasks Core mothers competencies to offer training session is limited Limited practical applications of knowledge and skills due to no operational budget Technology Integration

Ways forward Community Pre-School Management (To be implemented in early 2018) – Sub decree is adopted 2832  600  More than 10% each year (Through the assessment tools by Ministry of Education, Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Public Function) 1/33 indicators to reach the standard is Parenting Education Salary increased and controlled by MoEYS Increasing the numbers of pre-school teachers from 200 to 400 per year – ERC is doing research at RTTC and PTTC Insure the continued teachers training

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