The World Bank approved an additional $79.5 million to enhance education quality and access in Cambodia. This funding will expand project activities to more than 1,500 schools across the country, focusing on making education more accessible for children from disadvantaged groups, poor families, and those living with disabilities.
According to the World Bank on Friday, the financing will cover activities in 500 secondary schools, 1,000 primary schools and 90 preschools. These activities include training and professional development opportunities for teachers, piloting education technology, modernizing textbooks, and constructing and renovating more classrooms.
World Bank external affairs officer Bou Saroeun stated that the funding comprised $60 million credit from the International Development Association and $19.5 million grant from the Global Partnership for Education for the government.
In January 2022, the World Bank allocated $69.3 million for the General Education Improvement Project in Cambodia. The additional fund will scale up this project going forward.
Saroeun said due to the high demand in the education sector, the World Bank “added the budget […] so that the government is able to expand the [activities] to more schools than before.”
World Bank country manager for Cambodia Maryam Salim said efforts have been made by the government over the last two decades to expand access to education, but low student learning outcomes and inequitable access to quality education remain key challenges.
“This additional financing reinforces efforts to tackle learning poverty and build the human capital needed for Cambodia’s growth and development,” Maryam added.
Cambodia’s education sector needs further development, said Cambodian Institute for Democracy president Pa Chanroeun, citing an assessment report on the results of education reform by the World Bank earlier this year.
“Therefore, this loan will be able to contribute to the strengthening as well as development of the education sector in Cambodia to some extent. However, according to the World Bank report, it is confirmed that Cambodia has spent a lot on education but received low results,” Chanroeun told CamboJA News, adding that the government should spend the loan wisely.
Cambodian Independent Teachers Association president Ouk Chhayavy said the World Bank loan is “not very effective” because it is “not used for its actual purpose, but on less important things”.
“I want the additional financing for education [spent properly] to make sure students are the ones who will truly benefit,” she added.
Kok Thlok primary school principal in Banteay Meanchey province Sman Somkok told CamboJA News that the World Bank’s loan is good as his school receives school supplies, such as books and pens. That being said, there are some difficulties because each class has a large number of students, which limits the teacher’s focus on them.
“Because there are many students, the teacher cannot provide full attention […] if we teach one by one, we cannot finish the school program,” said Somkok, who also teaches grade three and four.
Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport spokesperson Khuon Vicheka could not be reached for comment.
