Public service debate winners announced
TRANSPARENCY International (TI) Cambodia on May 21 held the final round of its “Public Service Delivery and Budget Accountability” debate series, in collaboration with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), the EU and the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
The debate winners are seeking to educate youths about the delivery of public services and budget accountability at the grassroots level.
The event was held at Pannasastra University of Cambodia’s (PUC) Tuol Tom Poung campus and was streamed live on TI’s Facebook page, in which four youth groups debated the topic “Citizen and youth participation in social work on providing public services and budget accountability”, to identify the champions.
TI executive director Pech Pisey said the four final groups were drawn from the 162 students – 124 of them young women – who entered the competition.
He added that the debate programme was aimed at providing a discussion platform and improving youth engagement at the local level.
“This programme is part of an accountability project, so participation from youth provides input and pushes them to explore these matters. We wanted the competitors to seek out information for themselves, as in the future they will be competing with other ASEAN nations,” he said.
The debates lasted throughout the morning, and were judged by a committee which was composed of four experts from state institutions, civil society organisations and university lecturers.
Soeurng Nimol, a member of the third-place team, told The Post that the debate topic was very useful and provided her and her fellow debaters with an in-depth understanding of public services and budget flow and many other issues that occur in society.
She added that it not only provided an opportunity for capacity building for herself but also conveyed messages to other youths on issues, methods and solutions that could ultimately benefit society, as well as several state institutions.
“Through the debate, we have identified several issues with public services and budget provision. I want more young people to seek out information about these subjects,” she said, adding that it is important to draw attention to these issues.
Seng Kolnissai, captain of the winning team, said the event was a great way to encourage research and debate among the youth.
She said the forum was of great benefit to the public and state institutions alike.
“Youth are a driving force in many cultures, particularly Cambodia, which has a young population. Thus, I want them to more actively participate in public service, as well as in local development, such as at the commune level,” she added.
She also expected that the government will strengthen the qualifications of officials and eliminate corruption through some of the solutions that were raised by competitors during the debates.
TI Cambodia announced that the winning team earned $1,200 and gold medals. The second and third placed teams claimed silver and bronze and cash prizes of $1,000 and $800 respectively. The lowest placed of the final teams received $500.