Today, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport is highly honored that we all the leaders and officials at all levels of the Ministry have greeted Lok Chumteav MEN SAM AN, Stationed Deputy Prime Minister, on behalf of Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo HUN SEN, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, who has made time in her hectic schedule to preside over the solemn ceremony held at the National Institute of Education to acclaim the opening ceremony of education congress in the academic year 2009-2010 and setting goals for new academic year 2010-2011.

On behalf of all leaders in education sector within the country and myself, I would like to express our warm welcome and sincere gratitude to Lok Chumteav Stationed Deputy Prime Minister as well as the Royal Government for your kind attendance and attention to educational sector since the empty hand after the National Liberation Day on 7 January 1979.

It is 32 years that education sector has been being reconstructed and strengthened to develop human resources with quality for the national development in accordance with “Win Win” policy and the Rectangular Strategy of The Royal Government of Cambodia under the wise leadership of Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo HUN SEN, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

In the meantime, I honestly thank and appreciate education leaders and officers at all levels, and education staff, professors and teachers who have tried their best to successfully fulfill their duty in the previous academic year.

I would like to particularly thank and appreciate the contribution and assistance provision that families, national and international community, local authorities, charitable persons have actively participated in education development in Cambodia in respect of the slogan “Education for All, All for Education”.

My respect to Lok Chumteav Stationed Deputy Prime Minister!

Your Excellencies, Lok Chumteav, ladies and gentlemen!

Dear all participants!

Education Congress is annually held as the review meetings of all management levels to review the education, youth and sport performance in the previous academic year and set goals for new academic year. The note of the achievements of previous academic year 2009-2010 is that we are proud of the progress of the education, youth and sport performance at all education levels from preschool education level to higher education level in both quantity and quality. The prioritized activities and implemented strategies mainly focused on education quality improvement through building the capacity of teachers and capacity in management, governance, monitoring, inspection and evaluation to equally provide more opportunities to all children, youths and citizens, especially women to get access to education service with equity and good quality in both formal and informal education system by ensuring that they are able to complete the basic education level of 9 years in accordance with the education law and Chapter 6 of the Constitution 1993.

With the improved educon quality, there is a remarkable progress of quantitative education as follows:
. The number of preschool buildings increases to 4,114 buildings with the total number of 234.429 students, 50.34% of which is female.
. The number of primary school buildings increases to 6,767 with the total number of 2,191,202 students, 47.62% of which is female.
. There are 1,596 secondary education schools, 1,189 of which are lower secondary schools with the total number of 560,361 students, 48.22% of which is female. There are 407 upper secondary schools with the total number of 334,734 students, 44.92% of which is female.

. There are 91 state and 34 public higher education institutions, 57 of which are located in Phnom Penh and 18 provinces. Students who are pursuing their study:

• There are 20,719 students taking Associate degree program, 31.49% of which is female;
• There are 173,264 students taking Bachelor degree program, 40.95% of which is female;
• There are 12,887 students taking Master degree program, 18.8% of which is female; and
• There are 981 students taking doctoral program, 5.6% of which is female
Now, the number of student increases approximately by 3,500,000 if compared to the total population of fourteen millions, in which one person among 4 is in schools. The ratio is based on the government’s principles on the assurance of equitable access to all levels of education by establishing education institutions everywhere across the country to be situated next to people’s locations under the outstanding, dynamic and visionary leadership of Samdech Techo who identifies the education sector as the basis of Cambodia economic and social development.


My respect to Lok Chumteav Stationed Deputy Prime Minister!

Your Excellencies, Lok Chumteav, ladies and gentlemen!

Dear all participants!

From the education achievement in the previous academic year 2009-2010, this education congress shall reflect all the strengths and weaknesses that are required to strengthen and improve with high quality and effectiveness in line with the Rectangular Strategy, Phase II of the Royal Government of Cambodia 2008-2013 and with Millennium Development Goal 2000-2015 of world day on “Education for All”.

With this regard, the purpose of the 3 day education congress from 22 to 24 March, actively participated by development partners, has primarily focused on many issues, particularly the four points as follows:

One: Review the progress of the education policy implementation in the academic year 2009-2010 comparing to the expected annual results as stated in Education Strategic Plan.

Two: Review the effectiveness of financial expenditure of all projects in Education Strategic Plan activities.

Three: Review new improvement in the capacity building for education quality at all education levels, especially all challenges to be faced and addressed.

Four: Publish newly-developed recommendations and new measures as the strategy to implement in the upcoming years and the academic year 2010-2011.

All of these are raised to all participants for understanding and long-term vision so as to exchange ideas about the discussion on 9 topics and move forward to properly set the goals for the academic year 2010-2011 in all aspects and all education levels while we are seeking reform for quality improvement.

Before ending, I would like to take this opportunity to express my profound thanks and appreciation to Lok Chum Teav MEN SAM AN, Stationed Deputy Prime Minister on behalf of Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo HUN SEN, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia presiding over the opening ceremony of education congress of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport.

Finally, I sincerely hope the congress will achieve the good results and I would like to wish Lok Chum Teav Deputy Prime Minister, your Excellencies, Lok Chum Teav, ladies and gentlemen, national and international guests, delegation at municipal/provincial/city levels as well as all participants the four Buddhist wishes: longevity, nobility, health, and strengths.