1. Copyright © 2004 OFC 1 ESD Workshop in Seoul, Korea 22 – 24 November 2004, organized by UNESCO www.forum.org.kh Workshop on “Asia-Pacific Education for Sustainable Development” Country Report Coverage on: Socio-economic Issue – Livelihood, Challenges and Education Status in Cambodia Ms. Houth Ratanak Director Open Forum of Cambodia

2. Copyright © 2004 OFC 2 www.forum.org.kh Table of Contents I.Country Background II.Overview of the Poverty Situation III.The Macroeconomic Framework IV.Socio – Economic Development Challenges and Performance Over the Last Decade V.The Basic Education Strategy For Nine Years VI.Cross Cutting Education Reform Progress and Impact VII.Conclusions ESD Workshop in Seoul, Korea 22 – 24 November 2004, organized by UNESCO

3. Copyright © 2004 OFC 3 www.forum.org.kh ESD Workshop in Seoul, Korea 22 – 24 November 2004, organized by UNESCO Area: 181, 035 square kilometers Population: 13, 124, 764 million (2003 est.) It is bordered by: -Thailand to the West and Northwest, -Lao PDR to the North, -Vietnam to east and Southeast, -and by the Gulf of Thailand to the South and Southwest.

4. Copyright © 2004 OFC 4 www.forum.org.kh I.Country Background Population in Rural Area:85 – 90%. Ethnic Group: about 90% Khmer, 5% Chinese, 5% Vietnamese, and small numbers of hill tribes (Chams and Burmese etc.). Languages used: Khmer (95%), French (olders), English (younger generation). ESD Workshop in Seoul, Korea 22 – 24 November 2004, organized by UNESCO

5. Copyright © 2004 OFC 5 www.forum.org.kh ESD Workshop in Seoul, Korea 22 – 24 November 2004, organized by UNESCO Census population 1998

6. Copyright © 2004 OFC 6 www.forum.org.kh ESD Workshop in Seoul, Korea 22 – 24 November 2004, organized by UNESCO II.Overview of the Poverty Situation Reduced per capita consumption (measure in Riel). Inequality is very high; particularly along urban-rural lines. Illiteracy

7. Copyright © 2004 OFC 7 www.forum.org.kh ESD Workshop in Seoul, Korea 22 – 24 November 2004, organized by UNESCO III.The Macroeconomic Framework The historical legacy of genocide. The 1980s, the country remained isolated from the world (Soviet and Vietnamese and UN auspices in 1991). The sharp fall in investment and output in the mid-1990s. Grow in recent year strongly influenced by expansion of the export-oriented garment industry.

8. Copyright © 2004 OFC 8 www.forum.org.kh ESD Workshop in Seoul, Korea 22 – 24 November 2004, organized by UNESCO A policy of selective and carefully targeted demand expansion seems to us to be a good solution to this problem.

9. Copyright © 2004 OFC 9 www.forum.org.kh ESD Workshop in Seoul, Korea 22 – 24 November 2004, organized by UNESCO IV.Socio-Economic Development: Challenges and Performance over the decade. Economic will growth when: ­Macroeconomic is stable. ­The public investments are increased. ­Reintegrate into the international community. ­GDP growth. ­The industrial sectors growth. ­Tourism has significantly contributed to the country’s economic development and poverty reduction.

10. Copyright © 2004 OFC 10 www.forum.org.kh ESD Workshop in Seoul, Korea 22 – 24 November 2004, organized by UNESCO Inequality ­Inequalities of Gender in social, economic and political spheres. ­Inequalities of development between rural and urban communities. ­Inequalities of income.

11. Copyright © 2004 OFC 11 www.forum.org.kh ESD Workshop in Seoul, Korea 22 – 24 November 2004, organized by UNESCO Population ­High population grow. ­Increasing number of dependents to income earners. ­Increasing under and unemployment and depressing wages. ­Increasing the pressure on public service delivery in education. ­The high demand for social health.

12. Copyright © 2004 OFC 12 www.forum.org.kh ESD Workshop in Seoul, Korea 22 – 24 November 2004, organized by UNESCO V.Major current policies and programs 2002 - 2006 The five policy areas, which planed by MOEYS: 1.Effective partnership towards Education For All 2.Increased equitable access to education services 3.Improved quality and internal efficiency of education 4.Enhanced management and de-concentration of education services 5.Increased resource allocation to the education sector

13. Copyright © 2004 OFC 13 www.forum.org.kh ESD Workshop in Seoul, Korea 22 – 24 November 2004, organized by UNESCO 5.2The Key Challenges There are six major challenges that identified in the Education Sector : 1.To solve inequalities within the educational sector. 2.To improve the quantity and the qualities of education service. 3.To increase the demand for education. 4.To accelerate the process of decentralization. 5.To keep children in school once enrolled. 6.To involve improving the quality and access to preschool education.

14. Copyright © 2004 OFC 14 www.forum.org.kh ESD Workshop in Seoul, Korea 22 – 24 November 2004, organized by UNESCO 5.3Framework for Meeting the Key Challenges The main policy initiatives stated in the strategic plan (ESP). 1.Assuring equitable access to basic education. 2.Target student from poor families. 3.Promoting quality and efficiency improvement. 4.Accelerating decentralization.

15. Copyright © 2004 OFC 15 www.forum.org.kh ESD Workshop in Seoul, Korea 22 – 24 November 2004, organized by UNESCO VI.Cross Cutting Education Reform Progress and Impact. 6.1Reform Progress and Impact Analysis by Gender and Ethnic Minority. ­Progress and Impact on Gender. ­ Progress and Impact on Ethnic group. 6.2Education in Remote and Border Areas: Progress and Impact. ­Increasing number of school. ­Improving the service. ­Teacher incentive strategic.

16. Copyright © 2004 OFC 16 www.forum.org.kh ESD Workshop in Seoul, Korea 22 – 24 November 2004, organized by UNESCO Otherwise: ­The numbers of children abandon school in primary will be increased. ­Decreasing secondary school enrolment. ­The limited to availability of lower and upper secondary school facility.

17. Copyright © 2004 OFC 17 www.forum.org.kh ESD Workshop in Seoul, Korea 22 – 24 November 2004, organized by UNESCO VII.Conclusions ­Despite steady economic growth during the past decade, poverty has not declined significantly, falling from only 39 to 36 percent between 1994 and 1999. ­On the social side, progress has been slow and uneven. ­Gender equality remains a major issue in most areas of socio-economic life despite clear government commitment to female empowerment.

18. Copyright © 2004 OFC 18 www.forum.org.kh ESD Workshop in Seoul, Korea 22 – 24 November 2004, organized by UNESCO Recommendations: In order to reach the ESD, we as the stakeholders must identify the main problems of: Poverty Impact of Environment Inequality Then, we make a good strategy that very country in the region able to implement the process.

19. Copyright © 2004 OFC 19 www.forum.org.kh ESD Workshop in Seoul, Korea 22 – 24 November 2004, organized by UNESCO Orkun! Thank you very much for your attention!