UN Analysis Final.pdf - United Nations in Cambodia

4.2.2 YOUTH AND EDUCATION ATTENDANCE, HOW IT IMPACTS ON YOUTH LIVELIHOODS
Table 4-3. Young people aged 5-24 currently attending school, by level and region (%)
Level
Regions
Phnom Penh Other Urban Rural
Primary 46.2 66.5 80.1
Lower Secondary 22.6 19.3 13.9
High school 15.6 10.9 4.0
Technical/Vocational 2.4 1.0 0.2
Under Graduate/ Graduate 9.9 1.1 0.3
Other 1.7 0.1 0.2
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0
Source: CSES 2004
4.2.3 EARLY SCHOOL-LEAVING: A MAJOR BARRIER TO YOUTH EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
One of the biggest problems cited in relation to education in Cambodia is high attrition rates 19 for Grades
1-9 (MoEYS 2008). The National Strategic Development Plan Progress Report for 2006 notes that “these
unwanted trends arise from a high level of repetition and drop-out at these two levels.” 20 Because of
this, MoEYS has focused on a large school facilities development programme to respond to incomplete
primary schools and to bring educational service delivery opportunities closer to children’s homes.
The school curriculum is also being revamped in order to improve the relevance of education, particularly in
the area of life skills, and to discourage school dropout. School re-entry schemes are also being piloted on a
small scale. Major reasons for leaving school early include (in descending order of importance): not wanting to
be in school; having to help with household chores; having to contribute financially to the family; poor school
performance; and distance to school.
4.2.4 FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO YOUTH SCHOOL DROPOUT: FIELD FINDINGS
Household factors: School attainment and learning are related to household income, birth order, and,
importantly, the education level of parents – especially mothers’. 21 Catastrophic family health problems, the
loss of a parent, and other shocks or risks faced by families can also affect school attendance and progress.
These factors, which are linked to HIV and AIDS, are increasingly disrupting children’s school participation.
My father got sick and died last year; after his death only my mother supported the whole family. She sold our
remaining farmland to repay debt and buy food…we are now very difficult, my brother, sister and I could not
go to school anymore… we have to work to support the family – Individual interview with a street youth,
Poipet
Although direct school-related household costs have been reduced since the introduction of the Priority
Action Programme (PAP) in 2000, they remain substantial for poor and very poor households. The average
Cambodian family includes 5.7 and 5.3 children in urban and rural areas, respectively, 22 so the cost of sending
all five children to school is beyond the means of many families, as it could consume between 75 per
cent and 100 per cent of their income, depending on their poverty status (World Bank 2006). Under these
circumstances, difficult decisions are made about which children remain in school.
19
Survival rate in this context refers to the number of pupils who complete their education.
20
Drop-out rate: the number of pupils who leave school before completing their education.
21
SIndividual factors that are powerfully linked to school retention include aptitude, motivation, gender, the presence of physical
or mental disabilities, and access to early childhood nutrition and stimulation programmes.
22
http://www.moc.gov.kh/national_data_resource.
Situation Analysis of Youth in Cambodia
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