The strategy on education complements is a necessary pre-requisite for the success of the economic empowerment. As Cambodia moves towards middle-income status and regional integration, there is an increasing need to promote equal access to high quality education relevant to the forthcoming needs of the rapidly changing labour market. The gender gap, particularly in secondary and higher education due to insufficient locally available education facilities, combined with traditional values that place lower primacy on girls and women, needs to be addressed.
MoWA is expected to provide GMAGs with technical support to analyze remaining gender gaps, advocate for and initiate change and monitor progress. For example, adult literacy and information, education and communication (IEC) materials for educating girls and preventing drop-outs have been part of MoWA’s work, but they have been integrated into the line ministries’ portfolios successfully over the years. Programmatic interventions would ideally be handled by MoEYS, while the role of MoWA can be moved to increasing social accountability and raising awareness among women and girls about their entitlements to services and social protection, and monitoring their access to these services. MoWA will continue to coordinate with members of the Committee for Upholding Social Morality and Women’s and Khmer Family Values, in the implementation of the committee’s multi-sectoral strategic plan aimed at preserving good culture, including a culture of non-violence, and positive social attitudes towards gender equality.
MoWA is working with MoEYS to eliminate gender stereotypes and integrating human right into school textbook and teaching methodologies, incorporating various teaching and learning styles. The MoEYS has been putting large efforts in to improving the quality of education at all levels, which includes the gender sensitivities in teaching.
Promoting women in the education sector: All provincial and regional teacher-training centers provide dormitories for trainee teachers from disadvantaged remote areas, especially for female trainee teachers. Currently, MoEYS is improving the teacher-training curriculum at basic education level and for preschool and primary school teachers through the incorporation of topics on human rights, women’s rights, children’s rights, life skills, gender awareness and civic education. Regarding the recruitment for teachers, if men and women have the equal level of qualification, MoEYS will give priority to female candidates.
Promoting women in the education sector: All provincial and regional teacher-training centers provide dormitories for trainee teachers from disadvantaged remote areas, especially for female trainee teachers. Currently, MoEYS is improving the teacher-training curriculum at basic education level and for preschool and primary school teachers through the incorporation of topics on human rights, women’s rights, children’s rights, life skills, gender awareness and civic education. Regarding the recruitment for teachers, if men and women have the equal level of qualification, MoEYS will give priority to female candidates. The percentage of female teaching staff and females in leadership positions and management roles has gradually increased, owing to the strong initiatives of MoEYS to implement the Gender Mainstreaming Action Plan.
Scholarship program for girl students: the government and DP provide Scholarship programs for poor students at lower secondary education. The state budget covers 56,534 students (nearly 60 per cent female) at 809 schools. The Enhancing Education Quality Project (EEQP) of Asia Development Bank (ADB) provided scholarship for poor and well performed 2,500 students (60 per cent female) at upper secondary education. There are a number of NGOs, which are providing scholarship for girls.