Day: July 1, 2024

The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MoEYS), with support from UNICEF, officially launched last Friday the Inclusive Education Action Plan 2024-2028, marking a significant milestone in Cambodia’s educational landscape.

This comprehensive strategy aims to ensure that every child, including those with disabilities, has access to quality education, fostering a more inclusive and equitable society.

Globally, one out of every ten children have a disability, totalling about 240 million, with nearly half living in Southeast Asia. In Cambodia, children with disabilities are three times less likely to attend school than their peers, and Cambodia has one of the largest gaps in school attendance and completion between children with and without disabilities.

‘The adoption of the Inclusive Education Action Plan 2024-2028 demonstrates the government’s commitment to providing quality education for all children. By addressing the barriers faced by children with disabilities, we aim to create an educational system
that is truly inclusive and equitable. Together with our partners, we will ensure that every child in Cambodia has the opportunity to learn and thrive,’ said H.E. Ung Borath, Secretary of State, MoEYS, during the launch in Phnom Penh.

The Inclusive Education Action Plan 2024-2028 aims to achieve three main goals. Firstly, it focuses on changing societal attitudes to promote inclusiveness and prevent stigma and discrimination. Secondly, it seeks to provide necessary tools and support by ensuring access to assistive technology and services. Lastly, the plan emphasises collaboration across different areas of government, NGOs, UN organisations and development partners to create a comprehensive, inclusive, and supportive environment for children with disabilities.

The European Union believes that education for all is the key to unlocking the potential of Cambodian youth, and is essential for reducing poverty and creating jobs in the country. Inclusive education for persons with disabilities provides equal opport
unities and recognises the importance of their contribution to the sustainable development of the country, said Mr. Koen EVERAERT, Deputy Head of Cooperation of the European Union Delegation to Cambodia.

Inclusive education has been an integral part of USAID investments, especially through the use of evidence and data to drive decision-making and ensure no child is left behind, said USAID Cambodia Mission Director Kerry Pelzman.

‘USAID is proud of our partnership with MoEYS, the EU, UNICEF and other stakeholders to ensure quality education for all children with and without disabilities, particularly focusing on improving their literacy skills in mainstream and special schools,’ he said.

The launch event highlighted the pressing need for inclusive education, referencing the 2019 Cambodia Population Census, which revealed that 689,532 people aged five and up have a disability, with approximately 37,500 of them being children aged five to fourteen.

Children with disabilities face immense challenges in obtain
ing education, accessing healthcare, and fully participating in society. They often encounter stigma and discrimination and lack access to inclusive education programmes, said Mr. Will Parks, UNICEF Representative in Cambodia.

While the national education system has made significant progress, more efforts are needed to remove barriers, train teachers, and provide essential resources to ensure every child can thrive. If swiftly implemented, this new plan will significantly enhance access to high-quality education for children with disabilities, he said.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse

Cambodia has requested Malaysia to further deepen their parliamentary relations and cooperation for the benefits of the two countries and peoples and ASEAN Community.

The request was made by Samdech Moha Rathsapheathika Thipadei Khuon Sudary, President of the National Assembly (NA), while she was receiving a courtesy from H.E. Shaharuddin Bin Onn, newly appointed Ambassador of Malaysia to Cambodia, at the NA Palace here this morning.

Samdech Khuon Sudary expressed her appreciation for solid ties of friendship and cooperation for over the last six decades, and suggested the promotion of cooperation between both nations’ legislative body through the parliamentary friendship group, women parliamentarians, young parliamentarians and general secretariat.

Besides, the Cambodian NA president asked the Malaysian side to boost investment, trade and human resource training, especially technology for Cambodian youths. She also mentioned about Cambodia’s potential in Halal production for Malaysia to export to the thi
rd countries, and proposed an increase in direct flights between both countries.

For his part, H.E. Shaharuddin Bin Onn expressed his firm commitment to additionally enhance the existing bilateral relations and cooperation of both countries to a new height, particularly continue implementing already-agreed cooperation projects on trade and investment, employment and TVET (Technical Vocational Education and Training), digital technology connectivity, and Halal industry, during a visit of Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet to Malaysia in February this year.

H.E. Shaharuddin Bin Onn also stressed the key role of Cambodia in both regional and international stage.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse

Cambodian delegation led by H.E. Senior Minister Ieng Mouly, Chairman of the National AIDS Authority, has shared the Kingdom’s achievements in HIV/AIDS response, which were appreciated by the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

According to a press release of the National AIDS Authority AKP received this afternoon, the Cambodian delegation made four interventions at the 54th Meeting of the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board (UNAIDS PCB), which was attended for the third time by the Cambodian delegation, in Geneva, Switzerland.

In this session concluded on the afternoon of June 27, the Cambodian delegation outlined the progress of the HIV/AIDS response, which Cambodia has already achieved two goals out of the three 95-95-95 goals: 86-99-98. To achieve the remaining 95 goal, the Royal Government launched the National Policy for Ending AIDS and the Sustainability of HIV Programme for 2023-2028 on March 15, 2024. The policy calls for the search for nearly 10,000 suspected HIV-positive people so tha
t they can be tested for HIV and receive prompt care and treatment. At the same time, the policy encourages young men who have sex with men (MSM) to seek testing and receive health and social protection benefits. The National Policy paves the way for social protection programs to be modified to attract key populations for testing and access to health care.

Currently, Cambodia is expanding testing services through differentiated innovative testing approaches including HIV self-testing and Tele PrEP, Peer Driven Intervention (PDI+), Community-led HIV Testing and Mobile Van. Oral PrEP programme has been rolled out in 15 provinces across 28 health facilities and 13 Community-led PrEP. Regarding discrimination and stigma, Cambodia is committed to eliminating all forms of discrimination and stigma against PLHIV, as well as against Key Population, as discrimination and stigma are the main barriers to HIV/AIDS response.

Finally, on the Sustainability of HIV Programme, the Cambodian delegation reminded the meeting t
hat Cambodia embarked on developing a Transition Readiness Assessment in 2017, followed by the creation of the Cambodia HIV Sustainability Roadmap in 2018. In working towards the sustainability of HIV/AIDS, Cambodia has the political will to develop a national policy that accepts representatives of PLHIV and vulnerable communities to participate in all mechanisms of HIV response at all levels, national and sub-national levels. The Cambodian delegation called on Development Partners such as the Global Fund, PEPFAR or UNAIDS to strengthen the National HIV Response Country System in order to ultimately achieve total victory over HIV/AIDS.

On the participation of the Cambodian delegation, Ms. Patricia Ongpin, UNAIDS Country Director for Cambodia, Laos and Malaysia, made the following comments, “Cambodia’s interventions and active participation is greatly appreciated. You have not only showcased your hard work on the global stage and advocated for continued commitment from other members/donors, but you have been
acknowledged for your achievements.’

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse

The famed Angkor Archaeological Park, the most attractive tourism landscape in Cambodia, received 521,950 foreign tourists in the first semester of 2024, a year-on-year increase of 35 percent.

The figures were shared by the Angkor Enterprise, which oversees the Angkor entrance pass sales, in a report released on Monday, adding that the revenue generated from the entrance pass sales rose by 36 percent to US$24.35 million.

In June alone, the enterprise earned a total income of US$2.15 million, up 18 percent from June 2023, with 49,692 registered foreign tourists, a year-on-year rise by 20 percent, the source pointed out.

The entrance fee for a one-day visit to the park is US$37, a three-day visit costs US$62 and a week-long visit US$72.

Situated in Siem Reap northwest province, the 401-square-km Angkor Archaeological Park is home to 91 ancient temples, which had been built from the 9th to the 13th centuries. The park, inscribed on the World Heritage List of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cu
ltural Organisation (UNESCO) in 1992, is the most popular tourist destination in the Kingdom.

According to the same report, Koh Ker – the Khmer Empire’s sole capital from 928 to 944 CE and listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in September 2023, welcomed 10,828 foreign visitors during the first half of this year, generating US$162,420 as income from entrance pass sales.

The Royal Government has formed the Cambodia Tourism Marketing and Promotion Board, composed of representatives from the public and private sectors, to promote Cambodia’s tourism to the international markets.

In 2023, more than 790,000 foreign tourists bought entrance passes to visit Angkor, generating US$37 million as income, an increase of 222 percent compared to a year before.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse