Non-formal education and the promotion of lifelong learning
EDUCATION plays a crucial role in human resource development and is a backbone of national economic progress.
All its forms, whether through formal, non-formal, and informal systems, are effective means of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education, and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.
Socioeconomic, political, environmental, cultural, industrial and information communication technology (ICT) changes require the updating and revision of a lifelong learning programme, which focuses more on technical and vocational skills, career skills and nonphysical skills.
Learners can acquire these skills anytime, anywhere and by any means, especially by using ICT to support learning activities.
This article will look at the “National Policy on Lifelong Learning and Education Strategic Plan 2019-2023”.
To ensure that all Cambodians have access to basic, quality education, the Cambodian government defines Non-Formal Education (NFE) as an official system.
This contributes to achieving education for all, allows access to lifelong education and helps build a learning society with equality, fairness and social development.
The Cambodian government defines the strategy of the NFE policy as:
t 5P DSFBUF PQQPSUVOJUJFT so all people have access to lifelong learning;
t 5P QSPNPUF MJUFSBDZ and continuing education by creating links to provide acknowledgement, vocational skills and employment;
t 5P SFHVMBSMZ QSPWJEF information and knowledge on vocational skills training and technical and scientific subjects to all.
Along with the Education Strategic Plan 2019-2023, the non-formal education subsector has set three objectives:
t *ODSFBTJOH UIF OVNCFS PG the literate and the enrolment in non-formal education programmes for children, youth, the out-of-school and adults to receive full nonformal education services within the framework of lifelong learning of knowledge, practical skills and morality;
t 4USFOHUIFOJOH UIF management system, based
on the results of non-formal education programmes, to be fully operational;
t &OIBODJOH UIF DBQBDJUZ PG non-formal education officials at all levels.
To achieve the first objective, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) has set out a number of strategies, such as:
t %FWFMPQJOH BOE JNQSPWJOH non-formal education programmes;
t 1SPNPUJOH BEVMU MJUFSBDZ programmes;
t 5SBOTGPSNJOH DPNNVOJUZ learning centres (CLCs) into lifelong learning centres;
t &ODPVSBHJOH QSJWBUF sector, stakeholder and NGO support for non-formal
education programmes within the framework of lifelong learning.
MoEYS and other stakeholders have focused on developing CLCs and promoting mechanisms to transform them into lifelong learning centres in response to societal and regional trends, and the digital economy.
In the plenary session on June 7, 2019, MoEYS initiated developing the National Policy on Lifelong Learning aimed at developing potential human resources towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The vision of the National Policy on Lifelong Learning is to develop every Cambodian
through the gaining of knowledge, skills, attitude, physical fitness and values to contribute to economic growth and promote individual and social harmony through the provision of lifelong learning opportunities in all contexts and conditions.
To achieve this, a number of strategies have been set:
t %FWFMPQJOH B MFHJTMBUJWF framework and mechanisms;
t 1SPWJEJOH MJGFMPOH MFBSOJOH services to all;
t %FWFMPQJOH DPNQSFIFOTJWF and flexible lifelong learning programmes in response to the demand for education;
t %FWFMPQJOH MFBSOJOH centres, infrastructure and appropriate learning venues;
t 1SPWJEJOH DBQBDJUZ building for lifelong learning programme facilitators to become more professional;
t 3FDPHOJTJOH WBMJEBUJOH and accrediting the knowledge, skills and competence acquired from the LL programme, ensuring transparency, fairness and consistency;
t &ODPVSBHJOH NJOJTUSJFT and other relevant institutions to support lifelong learning;
t 1SPNPUJOH B DVMUVSF PG global citizenship;
t 1SPNPUJOH HFOEFS FRVBMJUZ equality and inclusion;
t &ODPVSBHJOH UIF QSJWBUF sector, development partners and NGOs to participate in providing lifelong learning services;
t 1SPNPUJOH FEVDBUJPO through technology.
Cambodia is one of the 11 member countries of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) established in 1965.
SEAMEO is responsible for training various skills such as teaching methods, mathematics, science, English, management, leadership, higher education, vocational skills, agriculture, industry and medicine, among others.
SEAMEO consists of 26 centres in the ASEAN region that help develop human resources and professionals in education, health, culture and tradition, ICT, poverty reduction, environment, agriculture and national resources.
Among them is the SEAMEO 3FHJPOBM $FOUSF GPS -JGFMPOH Learning in Vietnam.
This aims to cater for the regional needs in promoting lifelong learning and provide opportunities for cooperation in the field of lifelong learning among SEAMEO member and associate member countries.
It also helps strengthen relationships and increase mutual understanding among the educational researchers, practitioners and policy makers of the region, in a spirit of mutual respect and partnership.
In order to cultivate the spirit of the people to receive education in all forms and to contribute to the development of human resources, the Ministry of Education, development partners and stakeholders are actively working to promote and disseminate lifelong learning.
Lifelong learning encourages Cambodians to become global citizens in line with social needs and evolving global trends, especially in the context of the labour market, which requires the strengthening of skills, morality, physical fitness and values.