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1. Introduction
1.1 Summary of Main Purpose of Report
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The academic year 2003-04 has been a significant milestone in the education reform process. It represents the first year of EFA plan implementation and a basis for reviewing lessons learned over 2000-2004 for revision of the Education Strategic Plan (ESP) and Education Sector Support Program (ESSP).
A key purpose of this report is not only to assess the progress made in achieving initial policy goals and objectives but to reflect on the key strategies and programs. An associated purpose is therefore to examine how the effectiveness of existing strategies can be optimized through institutional reform and capacity building.
A key focus of the report will be to measure progress made in reaching well-defined access, quality and institutional/financial targets through an impact analysis of policy actions and specific programs. This assessment will also take account of benchmarks laid out in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
For this reason, the 2004 sector performance report looks at broad trend analysis over the period 2000-2004, rather than incremental year on year changes.
| Education Reform 2000-2004: Strategic Review |
| To what extent has education and training been reoriented to ensure an optimum contribution to broader poverty reduction, economic growth and social well being for Cambodia's people? |
| Are additional education / training policies and strategies needed or can existing ones be implemented more effectively? |
| Within the context of EFA, what is a realistic target for expanding post-basic education services and what should be the role of Government in doing so? |
| How best can the relevance, quality and standards of education services be improved and what should be the role for the Government in assuring and governing standards? |
| What are the realistic prospects for increased Government spending on education and what measures are needed to mobilise additional resources from the private sector and parents? |
| What measures are needed to ensure education spending has maximum impact and reassure stakeholders of results and value for money? |
| What kind of external assistance modalities are likely to be most effective in helping to achieve its education reform objectives and targets? |
1.2 Summary of Main Purpose of Report
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The report is also an opportunity to indicate the extent to which MoEYS has responded to the broad findings of the joint ESSP review 2003. At the sector level, the joint 2003 review teams findings included:
» Additional measures to reduce cost barriers to access, including expanded facilities, reduction in informal payments and expanded scholarships provision for the poor.
» Further strengthening of quality improvement and assurance strategies through a combination of focused activities, rigorous standards monitoring and governance reforms.
» Further consolidation of financial planning, management and audit systems, especially to secure better budget predictability and execution.
» Review of overall education expenditure balance between sub-sectors and wage and non-wage spending to enable policy and strategy reform.
» Completion of policy and strategy development for expanding upper secondary, youth skills training and higher education, incorporating a well regulated private/partnership.
A cross cutting concern was timely enactment of the new education legislation, initiated in early 2003 to ensure that the education reform program was underpinned by well defined regulations, operational guidelines and appropriate authority and responsibility at different levels of the education system.
1.3 Linkage with ESP and ESSP 2004/08 Preparation
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MoEYS initiated a review of the ESP 2004-2008, which was completed in September 2004. The process consisted of a) an initial ESP framework document and work plan, agreed with partners in November 2003, b) the operation of ESP technical taskforces, led by MoEYS senior officials, c) extensive strategic and financial analysis, particularly for post-basic education and d) a review of sector performance targets and indicators. This report should be viewed as a companion volume to the ESP 2004-2008 review process and the proposed ESSP 2004-2008 framework document and work plan.
Chart 1: Growing Education Opportunities, 2000-2004
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