National Institute of Education, Phnom Penh, 26 January 2012

- Excellency Im Sethy, Minister of Education, Youth and Sports
- Excellencies, Distinguished Participants
- Colleagues
- Ladies and gentlemen

Good morning. I am very honored to join you here today on behalf of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to see the fruit of our efforts to enhance the quality of teaching and learning at upper secondary schools in Cambodia.

Through providing science lab equipment for our teachers and students, we want to give young people the opportunity to experiment. Students today will be able to learn by doing, in a hands-on approach that reinforces what they learn through lessons and reading. I trust that the science lab equipment that you see today will be fully utilized and properly made available for educational purposes.

ADB is committed to supporting the Education Strategic Plan’s key policy areas of equitable access, quality improvement and capacity development in basic education and general upper secondary education.

I would like to congratulate the leadership of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports and the management team of the Enhancing Education Quality Project (EEQP) for their strong commitment to promoting quality secondary education through:

• upgrading teaching and learning facilities,
• improving pre-service and in-service teacher training opportunities,
• placing more qualified teachers at rural schools and especially women teachers in secondary schools,
• ensuring that more students receive core textbooks, making more lower secondary schools child-friendly, and
• building more libraries at secondary schools and higher education institutions.

Excellencies, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen,

Education is a core area of ADB operations. ADB provides project financing and technical assistance to its developing member countries to help improve education systems to become equitable and inclusive, cost-efficient, of high quality and responsive
to labor market needs. Education plays an increasingly critical role in ensuring sustainable human resource development.

I would like to share three observations on the issue of promoting quality secondary education:

First, Cambodia’s Constitution encourages every citizen to complete nine years of basic education, as it is the foundation for further learning opportunities. Second, in this era of global economic integration, being a competitive economy is a key to growth and development. A highly literate population with technical skills, creativity and social responsibility is the foundation of competitiveness and underpins inclusive and sustainable socioeconomic development. Third, while we all realize that science and technology are difficult subjects at school with high investment costs, Cambodia cannot prosper in a knowledge-based society without it.

ADB looks forward to working closely with the Royal Government of Cambodia, during this second decade of the 21st century, to review its existing policies and strategies and to consider more effective measures to mobilize and generate resources to promote high quality post-basic education that is relevant to the needs of the labor market. This must include building a strong foundationfc so that students may pursue post-secondary education in the fields of science and technology.

It is a particular pleasure for me to see so many school principals, teachers and students here today. Both my parents were teachers and I think it is one of the most noble professions. I salute you all for the important work you do to build the future generations of this country. I also trust that you will make the best use of the science equipment, manage it well, and properly maintain it so that you are able to enjoy many long years of use.

Let me take the opportunity to reaffirm ADB’s continued strong support to the education sector, as one of ADB’s priority sectors in the Country Partnership Strategy for Cambodia.

Finally, I wish you all continued success in all your future endeavors.

Thank you.