Phnom Penh (FN), Feb. 19 – Below is the joint press release by Sweden and UNICEF on the launching of the USD 8.3 million partnership to improve education for Cambodia’s children.
The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, the Government of Sweden and UNICEF, on 19 February 2020, launched the Quality and Inclusive Education Support Partnership.
Funded by the Government of Sweden, this USD 8.3 million partnership will be conducted over a period of four years (2020-2023) and will directly support education reform priorities and programmes as stated in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport’s the Education Strategic Plan 2019-2023. The partnership will contribute to advancing Cambodia’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) attainment linked to education quality and inclusion, gender equality as well as health, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene in schools, benefiting children, particularly those from disadvantaged groups, who are struggling to realize their potential.
“Education holds a high level of importance within Cambodia’s national development priorities, including as a critical factor in driving quality improvements to human resources and in underpinning economic growth. Through this new partnership with Sweden and UNICEF, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport will further strengthen the education system to more effectively respond to the education needs of all children in Cambodia,” said His Excellency Dr Hang Choun Naron, Minister of Education, Youth and Sport.
His Excellency Björn Häggmark, Ambassador of Sweden to the Kingdom of Cambodia acknowledged the important and longstanding partnership between the Ministry of Education Youth and Sport, Sweden and UNICEF in working together to improve the quality and inclusiveness of education in Cambodia.
“Sweden is delighted to have been a longstanding partner with UNICEF and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport in re-building and strengthening the education system in Cambodia. By renewing this partnership, we will continue to assist all children in Cambodia, particularly those from ethnic minority groups, those living with disability and those from rural and urban poor areas, to access quality, inclusive and equitable education. The work undertaken through the partnership will also make an important contribution to Cambodia realising it national development priorities and move closer to realising critical SDG targets.”
Ms Cristian Munduate, UNICEF’s Representative to Cambodia highlighted the importance of the new partnership in broadening the prospects and life pathways of Cambodia’s children.
“Despite tremendous progress in education, still many children in Cambodia continue to fall behind in school for a number of reasons, including poor quality of teaching and learning environments. This partnership will assist the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport to implement important programmes that deliver better quality and more equitable education for every child in Cambodia. The partnership will also help children and adolescents of different abilities and social backgrounds to access inclusive, quality and relevant education so they can fully develop and reach their full potential.”
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