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	Objectives and Justification Scope and Coverage Summary of Main Activities Program Management and Monitoring Financing Plan

Objectives and Justification » Up

Non-formal education programs will help to ensure that all children and adults realize their right to a basic education. The primary objective is to provide cost effective, efficient, high quality and sustainable learning opportunities for increasing numbers of the most disadvantaged and under-served out-of-school children and functionally illiterate adults as systematically and as quickly as possible.

Facilitating re-entry into the formal system alongside provision of complementary programs will better equip Cambodians to participate in social and economic development, and is an important means for reducing poverty. A key objective will be to extend collaboration with other Government and non-Government actors, including NGOs and civil society, particularly at community level.

Scope and Coverage » Up

The programs main priority will focus on re-entry and equivalency programs for out-of-school youth. This will be particularly important given the likely surge in demand for re-entry as a result of the policy to abolish illegal payments to be introduced in 2005. The primary target group will be students who have dropped out of school for less than three years, alongside severely vulnerable groups in remote, minority and border areas. The ESP targets are to re-enter 120,000 out-of-school youths per annum into mainstream schooling (grades 3-6 80,000, grades 7-9 40,000) from 2005, and to expand equivalency programs to 150,000 per annum from 2005 (grades 3-6 25,000, grades 7-9 75,000, grades 10-12 50,000). The target groups will be 60% females and 60% from poor families.

In addition, within limited financial resources, MoEYS will review the scope and feasibility of literacy and life-skills initiatives for marginalized and excluded youth and adults as a means to strengthen basic capacities for income generation, agricultural innovation and socio-economic development and focusing on life-skills for preventing HIV/AIDS and other health issues. These programs will increasingly be resourced through public/NGO/community partnerships, and will need to use flexible strategies for teaching and facilities support. The target is to reach 120,000 people per annum, with 60% female and 60% from poor families.

Summary of Main Activities » Up

The main activities of the program are:

1. Expansion of re-entry and equivalency programs. Activities will include, a) operational budget support for expansion of re-entry programs for school dropouts, b) development of equivalency and re-entry programs and testing based on minimum standards, and c) enhancing curriculum and learning materials.

2. Expansion of literacy/life-skills programs. Activities will focus on reviewing options for enabling sustainable provision of complementary literacy/life-skills strategies including linkages with non-formal skills training and community learning centres, and facilitating Government/NGO/community partnerships.

3. Upgrading of capacity for NFE staff. Activities will include, a) strengthening capacity at central, provincial and community levels for the targeting, planning and management of NFE programs, b) strengthening NFE information systems as a basis for better analysis of learning needs, poverty targeting, assessment of cost effectiveness, program monitoring and improved coordination with non-Government initiatives, and c) strengthening operational research and evaluation skills.

4. Program Monitoring for operational support to NFE departments and provinces/districts to plan and monitor the program, including any impact reports.

Management and Monitoring Arrangements » Up

The Department for Non-Formal Education will be responsible for overall program management, including design of interventions, targeting, planning, quality assurance and monitoring, but with emphasis on collaboration with other departments, provincial and district offices, other ministries and community organisations/NGOs. DNFE is the designated budget management centre (BMC) for the NFE programs. It will also provide provinces with an annual budget allocation and assistance for the planning of programs. The DNFE will produce an annual report on its program progress and impact, drawing on data from the provinces.

Financial management arrangements will be reviewed. Options include a demand-driven NFE fund or use of provincial and district BMCs. A guiding principle will be to optimise flexibility and responsiveness to priority needs and diversify program delivery to community groups and NGOs.

Financing Plan » Up

The financing plan reflects the growing emphasis on re-entry programs to address the school drop out problem. Mobilizing non-Government contributions including from the community, private sector partnerships, and complementary donor and NGO support will be critical, particularly for literacy/life-skills initiatives.

» Topic List
	Objectives and Justification Scope and Coverage Summary of Main Activities Program Management and Monitoring Financing Plan