Press Release:14 Million Dollars in continued Swedish Support for Basic Education
	Speech by H.E. Tol Lah, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of MoEYS
	Words by Mr. Daniel, Counsellor, Embassy of Sweden

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Signing ceremony with Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport of the agreement on Swedish support for the Expanded Basic Education Programme
Words by Mr. Daniel Asplund, Counsellor of Development Co-operation Section, Embassy of Sweden

Your Excellency Deputy-Prime Minister, Tol Lah, Minister of Education, Youth and Sport, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen!

It is with great satisfaction that I today, on behalf of the Swedish Government and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Sida, sign this bilateral agreement on Swedish contribution of 150 million Swedish kronor -about 14 million USD -for the Expanded Basic Education Programme.

This Expanded Basic Education Programme is a continuation of a long-term Swedish assistance to basic education in Cambodia. The Swedish government has between 1996 and 2001 provided a total of 16,5 million USD in support to basic education and the sector wide approach through the projects called "Basic Education Programme Phase land II.

During all these years the Ministry of Education has implemented the programme in close cooperation and partnership with UNICEF. The Swedish support has been channeled through UNICEF -a support arrangement that has proven to be beneficial, positive and conducive to all parties. UNICEF has demonstrated a high level of flexibility in adjusting its programme in line with the Ministry's priorities. UNICEF has also proved to be a reliable partner to Sida. The fact that the current programme was jointly prepared by the Ministry/UNICEF underlines the movement towards increasing ownership and sector- wide approach.

Sweden's continued support to Basic Education is a reflection of our- shared conviction that providing opportunities to all Cambodian children is central to poverty reduction and socio-economic development. Education is a basic human right and is necessary for sustainable social and economic development. The education of girls is one of the most important determinants of development. Investment in basic education is indispensable for human development and pro-poor growth. It is therefore with great satisfaction that we note that the RGC's budget allocation to education has increased the last two years and that this year's budget allocates even more resources to education.

Sida's support to the education sector is always based on partner countries' own education programmes. Sweden has given basic education and literacy for all a priority since the mid-1970s. While this continues, Sida's emphasis on sector-wide approaches implies a shift, from support to basic education, to support to the partner country education sector strategies that give priority to basic education for all. Needless to say it was therefore very important for us that that the objectives of the Expanded Basic Education Programme were consistent with the RGC's Education Strategic Plan (ESP) and Education Sector Support Programme (ESSP).

Considering the long-term need of Cambodia for sustained institution and human capacity development, Sida will through UNICEF aim at promoting, facilitating and supporting activities that would reduce the dependency on international technical assistance. While there are historical justifications for such dependence, we believe that increasing efforts should be made at using untapped national resources and competence both within and outside the Ministry. The future sustainability of the education system in Cambodia will depend largely on your own resources and ability.

In this context of capacity building, we propose that a long-term institutional linkage would be established between the MoEYS and an external professional education institution. As discussed during last year's annual review discussion, Sida and UNICEF are prepared to facilitate such linkages. The first step would in our view be to conduct a feasibility study.

In early 2001 the Ministry presented a Legislative/Regulatory Framework Situation Analysis, which points out the need for an all- inclusive and child friendly legal framework for education development and management in Cambodia. We would like to reconfirm that part of our support should be used to assist the RGC in the formulation process of an Education Act.

We strongly support the Ministry in developing the SWAP-process. We will do our best to be constructive partners and contributors to this exercise, hoping that with our support and with the assistance of NICEF the Ministry will be able to identify new approaches, methods and strategies, which aim at providing direct budget support to the education sector.

Finally, I would like to wish you the best of luck in implementing this programme.

Thank you, Your Excellency, for your kind attention.

UP