World Bank Grants Nearly US$80m to Cambodia to Enhance Over 1,500 Educational Institutions Nationwide

• 3 June 2024
• Local News
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The World Bank has allocated an additional US$79.5 million to Cambodia to improve access to quality education across 1,590 educational institutions. This expansion, announced in a press release on 30 May 2024, builds upon an initial funding package of US$69.25 million approved in January 2022.

The new financing package includes a US$60 million loan from the International Development Association, a World Bank fund for the world’s poorest nations, and US$19.5 million from the Global Partnership for Education. The funds aim to bolster Cambodia’s general education system improvement project.

Mariam Salim, World Bank Country Manager for Cambodia, emphasised that the additional funding aims to “strengthen efforts to address poverty in education and build essential human resources for Cambodia’s economic growth and development.” This expanded funding will support project activities at 500 secondary schools, 1,000 primary schools, and 90 kindergartens nationwide.

Key initiatives include:

• Expanding school management practices to more schools.
• Providing additional training and professional development for teachers, leaders, and school staff.
• Building and renovating classrooms, laboratories, and school buildings with weather-resistant designs.
• Utilising educational technology to enhance the quality of study time.
• Updating textbooks and creating teacher guides in alignment with the national curriculum.
• Strengthening planning, monitoring, and evaluation in each area.

This project specifically targets children from disadvantaged backgrounds, including those from poor or Indigenous communities, remote areas, and those living with disabilities, ensuring they have access to quality education.

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