Objectives and Justification

Non-formal education programs will help to ensure that all children and adults realize their right to a basic education. Non-formal education programs are by their nature targeted towards, and accessed by, the most poor and marginalized groups of society who face difficulties accessing formal education provision. In light of this, they are highly pro-poor.

The major program outcome will be to provide cost efficient and high quality re-entry and targeted complementary schooling and selected non-formal community skills assessment programs

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.

Key Targets and Indicators » Up

• Expand Re-entry opportunities for out-of-school youths from 19,476 students (45% female) supported (with an estimated 75% success rate⁹) in 2004-05, to 25,000 students supported each year (with a target of 60% female) in grades 3-6 from 2006 onwards and an additional 5,000 students supported each year in grades 7-9 from 2008 onwards.

• In co-operation with NGO providers, expand equivalency programs from around 5,000 students in 2004-05 to 30,000 per annum from 2006 (grades 3-6 - 15,000, grades 7-9 - 10,000, grades 10-12 - 5,000). The target groups will be 60% females

• Expand enrolment in literacy, life-skills, and income generation programs for marginalized and excluded youth and adults from 112,557 students (63% female) in 2004-05 to reach 120,000 students per annum, with at least 60% female.

Strategy scope and Coverage » Up

The primary target group will be students who have dropped out of school less than three years, alongside extremely vulnerable groups in remote, minority and border areas. The main priority of the program will focus on re-entry and equivalency programs for out-of-school youth. A key objective will be to extend collaboration with other Government and non-Government actors, including NGOs and civil society, particularly at community level. With limited financial resources, MoEYS will review the scope and feasibility of literacy and life-skills initiatives as a means for marginalized and excluded youth and adults to strengthen basic capacities for income generation, agricultural innovation and socio-economic development and focus 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.

Main Programmes and Activities » Up

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. Bilingual program for minority.

3- Strengthen and expand community learning centres, libraries, and reading centres to enhance knowledge and provide support for newly literate learners.

4- 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 basic for better analysis of learning needs, poverty targeting, assessment of cost effectiveness, program monitoring and improved coordination non-Government initiatives.

5- Strengthening NFE structure from central to community level.

6- Facilitate program for operational support to NFE departments and provinces/districts to monitor the program, including any impact reports.

7- Provision to out-of-school youth of MoEYS peer-education Life-skills for HIV/AIDS program, in cooperation with selected NGOs¹⁰

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.

Table 9: Expansion Of Non Formal Education Financing Plan

Activities	Costs in Riels millions
	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
1. Expansion of re-entry/equivalency program	5,000	4,600	5,800	6,000	6,200
2. Expansion of professional/ life skills literacy program	1,000	1,000	1,000	1,500	1,500
3. Upgrading capacity for non-formal education staff	200	200	200	250	300
4. Program Monitoring and Evaluation	500	500	500	600	600
Resources: Total	6,700	6,300	7,500	8,350	8,400

Capacity building needs » Up

• Strengthen capacity at central, provincial and community levels for the targeting, planning and management of NFE programs.

• Strengthen NFE information systems as a basis for better analysis of learning needs, poverty targeting, and assessment of cost effectiveness, program monitoring and improved coordination with non-Government initiatives.

• Support form developing institutional and management strategies to strengthen NFE structure from central to community level.

⁹ Based on success rate of re-entry program in 2003-04

¹⁰ Supported through Inter-Departmental Committee on HIV/AIDS (ICHA)

» Topic List
	Objectives and Justification Key Targets and Indicators Strategy scope and Coverage Main Programmes and Activities Management and Monitoring Arrangements Financing Plan Capacity building