3.1. MoEYS is responsible for the funding, provision of teaching staff, provision of facilities and resources for what is defined in this plan as the National Curriculum (NC).

3.2. The NC will be taught for 38 weeks per year

3.3. Schools, local communities, community group, NGOs and private education providers are expected to develop programs that will enrich and broaden the NC.

3.4. Schools, in partnership with parents, their local community, community organizations and NGOs, must develop and administer a Local Life Skills Program (LLSP) of between 2 to 5 lessons per week (40 minutes per lesson in primary and 50 minutes per lesson in secondary level) to supplement the NC.

3.5. The time allocation for the NC and for LLSP is as follows:

NC	LLSP	TOTAL
PRIMARY
5 x 40-minute lessons per day (25 x 40-minute lessons per week)	2 - 5 x 40 minute lessons per week	27 - 30 lessons per week
SECONDARY (Grades 7- 10)
30 x 50-minute lessons per week	2 - 5 x 50 minute lessons per week	32 - 35 lessons per week
SECONDARY (Grades 11- 12)
32 x 50-minute lessons per week		32 x 50-minute lessons per week

The purpose of the LLSP is:

3.6.1 to provide schools, in partnership with parents, their local community, community organizations and NGOs, with the opportunity to provide training in specific life skills that have a particular relevance to local students;

3.6.2 to provide schools with time in the curriculum for extra-curricula activities such as social services or youth movement activities that will further develop students' habits of self-confidence and responsibility. These habits are formed most strongly in the primary school years, and this is reflected in the time made available for LLSP in these years.

3.7 It is the responsibility of schools, in partnership with parents, their local communities, community organizations and NGO's to design, fund, staff and provide facilities and equipment for the delivery of the LLSP.

3.8 In Grades 11 and 12 of the Upper Secondary sector the curriculum is delivered through National Curriculum subjects and an Elective Vocational Education Program (EVEP). In Grade 10, the curriculum is delivered through National Curriculum subjects and the LLSP.

3.9 The purpose of the EVEP is to provide students with the opportunity to participate in locally provided vocational training programs.

3.10 The EVEP is provided by MoEYS and/or private education providers in partnership with and registered by MoEYS. Students who participate in EVEP programs will be funded by MoEYS or private partnership or contribution.

3.11 The curriculum for subjects delivered as part of the EVEP is approved by the MoEYS and the assessment for subjects delivered as part of the EVEP is regulated by the MoEYS.

• be structured, systematic and student-centered
• include in-classroom and out-of-classroom activities
• involve students in both theoretical and practical learning
• provide opportunities for the encouragement and development of creativity and imagination.

3.13 Two foreign Languages, English and French, are provided as part of the National Curriculum for all students from Grades 5 - 12. Each student must choose only one foreign language (English or French) to study. For the first stage (2005-2009), in primary level, Grades 5 and 6, foreign languages will be offered depending on the availability of school resources. The MoEYS will encourage schools to offer foreign languages using non-MoEYS resources in the LLSP time

3.14 Schools should provide equal access to all components of the curriculum for both girls and boys. Schools should make a particular effort to facilitate participation by girls in all aspects of the curriculum.

3.15 Schools should provide opportunities for the development of gifted students. This can be done through providing access to existing programs for gifted and talented students, by accelerating students through normal grade progression, and by providing special programs in the time allocated for the LLSP.

3.16 Schools should support students with learning difficulties through teacher assistance during lesson time and through special programs in the time allocated for the LLSP.

3.17 Schools should attempt to provide wherever possible access to the curriculum for students with disabilities.

3.18 The assessment program for each school should provide students and parents with a clear indication of each student's level of achievement against the expected standards set out in the new curriculum, against the learning standards for students in Grades 3, 6, 9 and 12(consistent with policy set out in EFA p. 38), and should provide students with clear information about areas of excellence, areas that require improvement and steps that students should take to improve their learning. Schools should report to parents on student participation and achievement in all components of the school curriculum.

3.19 The standard medium of instruction is Khmer. Textbooks will be published in Khmer except for Foreign Language textbooks. In schools where there are a large number of speakers of minority languages, teachers may conduct some instruction of the class in the minority language and may translate key vocabulary contained in textbooks from Khmer to the minority language as a means of assisting student learning.

3.20 The content, expected knowledge and skills outcomes and associated standards of the National Curriculum will be set out in the new National Curriculum documents.

3.21 The MoEYS is responsible for developing the curriculum and standard for each subject in the NC and has the responsibility to monitor and regulate the publication or production of core textbook, additional reading document, supplementary teaching materials that serve the purpose of learning and teaching in schools.

3.22 For the purpose of curriculum organization and delivery, and the development of Standards, the National Curriculum for Basic Education is divided into the following three stages:

• Primary Grades 1 - 3
• Primary Grades 4 - 6
• Lower Secondary Grades 7 - 9

• Grade 10
• Grades 11 - 12