Cambodia has made significant improvements in education over the last years. The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MOEYS) is close to achieving universal access to primary education; the country achieved a 98 percent primary net enrollment rate in 2015. Cambodia has also strengthened gender parity in education, with girls comprising 48 percent of primary students. Cambodia has built nearly 1,000 new schools in the last ten years and has invested significant resources to expand access to a quality education. The government has committed 18 percent of the national budget to education. Between the years 2010 - 2014, the government revised the national curriculum and corresponding student learning materials with the goal to improve learning. Despite these gains, Cambodia has one of the highest pupil-to-teacher ratios in the region and only 53 % of third graders are reading at grade level.

ACTIVITIES

Early Grade Reading Analyses and Capacity Building

To inform and expedite start-up for a new Early Grade Reading (EGR) program, USAID conducted a comprehensive early grade reading sector assessment in 2015.

• The EGR Sector Assessment identified specific technical areas where USAID could provide immediate support to strengthen MoEYS systems, tools and capacity. During 2016, USAID has supported bridging activities to build MoEYS capacity to develop and manage early grade reading assessment tools and processes. This support will help the MOEYS to have reliable and valid tools and assessment procedures to measure early grade reading skills.
• In collaboration with the MoEYS Primary Education and Education Quality Assurance Departments, USAID provided technical assistance to update the 2009 early grade assessment tool and pilot tested the new instrument in selected schools.

Support for Senior MoEYS Engagement on Global Education Policy Dialogue

Over the past year, USAID supported three MoEYS delegation visits to the U.S. to engage on global education policy dialogue and see different U.S. models for school management and education service delivery.  Senior MoEYS officials participated in the School Drop-out and Prevention Summit, the USAID Global Education Summit and, most recently, were invited to present on early grade reading assessment to commemorate International Literacy Day 2016 at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.