National stakeholder workshop to discuss strategies for BEEP expansion

Over the two-day event, more than 140 participants including BEEP facilitators and officials from the Provincial Office of Education from 16 provinces across Cambodia shared their achievements and best practices in their outreach efforts to out-of-school youth in their respective geographical locations, as well as strategies to strengthen the performance of their learning centres. Relevant departments and agencies under both the MLVT and MoEYS also presented to deepen the knowledge of participants in BEEP's contribution to Cambodia's National TVET Policy, National Employment Policy, Non-Formal Education Policy, Lifelong Learning Policy and National Youth Development Policy and Action Plan. The workshop culminated in a final sharing session where participants actively contributed to the discussions on the different strategies to support the expansion of BEEP.

©Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training

In his opening remarks, His Excellency Pok Pan, Secretary of State, Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training highlighted that the Royal Government of Cambodia and its partners have recognised BEEP as the model programme for youth who have lost their opportunity to study and want to continue their studies and improve their technical and vocational knowledge and skills.

Mr. Sardar Umar Alam, UNESCO Representative to Cambodia, added that providing alternative pathways for Cambodian youth to access further education and skills development is important, just half of Cambodians aged between 18-24 have completed at least lower secondary school. "We are very proud that BEEP is one of the flagship education programmes supporting youth and skills development in Cambodia. For UNESCO, BEEP is about creating pathways for young Cambodians to realise their full potential and contribute to Cambodia's socio-economic development. It is about providing a second chance for out-of-school youth to re-engage in the formal education system."

©Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training

With the support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation through the Decent Employment for Youth in Cambodia Programme (DEY) and Smart Axiata, the MLVT, MoEYS and UNESCO are working towards achieving a nationwide expansion of BEEP, including reaching new provinces and youth in correctional and rehabilitation centres. Since the establishment of the first learning centre in 2019, BEEP is now operating 27 learning centres in 16 provinces across Cambodia to connect more youth to formal TVET, skills development and decent employment through BEEP's flexible online learning. Today, BEEP has benefitted nearly 2,000 young Cambodian women and men.

©Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training

About Basic Education Equivalency Programme (BEEP)

BEEP is part of the Decent Employment for Youth in Cambodia programme phase II (DEY II) mainly funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). As the flagship collaborative initiative between the MoEYS and the MLVT, the programme is launched by the two ministries and UNESCO to address the issue of high dropout rates at the lower secondary level in Cambodia. Upon completion of the programme, learners receive a certificate equivalent to Grade 9 accredited by the two ministries.

For further information, please contact:

Mr. CHHEAN Sothearith, Deputy Director of Training Department, MLVT. Email: [email protected], Tel: 010 608 180

Mr. ROS Phearak, Secretariate of Directorate General of Youth, MoEYS. Email: [email protected], Tel: 012 617 807

Mr. LEAV Kimlay, Education Programme Officer, UNESCO. Email: [email protected], Tel: 069 891 234