US helps $10 million for education projects in Cambodia

United States Announces $10 Million Education Project in Cambodia

“The United States on March 11 has launched a five-year, $10 million education project in Cambodia designed to improve the quality and relevance of basic education and increase access to schooling for all children, in particular underserved groups such as minorities, girls and the very poor,” the press release from the U.S. Embassy obtained on Friday said.

“The Improved Basic Education in Cambodia Project is expected to reach nearly 120,000 students in primary and lower-secondary schools in Kampong Cham, Kratie and Siem Reap provinces,” it said, adding that it will work in close collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, and will be implemented by World Education.

At a launch event last night at the U.S. Chief of Mission Residence, Ambassador Carol A. Rodley joined Minister of Education, Youth and Sports Im Sethy in praising the potential of the new project.

“This project will provide Cambodian students with the opportunities they need to reach their full potential,” Ambassador Rodley said as quoting in the press release. “The United States looks forward to working with all of our education partners over the next five years.” She added. The press release noted the project will build on the successes of past U.S. education programs in Cambodia while expanding their scope to include new areas and thousands of new students. Under past programs, enrollment rates in targeted areas increased by 13% in primary schools and 9% in secondary schools, while 76% of U.S.-supported schools reported reduced dropout rates and 72% reported reductions in students repeating grades.

It continued that activities under the new project will include developing and pilot testing the lower secondary life-skills curriculum, which teaches students skills relevant to rural life such as raising crops and starting a business, and building additional energy-efficient computer labs, which use solar energy to provide students in rural areas with access to computer technology.
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