Decentralised education training launched
THE Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport has launched training for leaders and professional officers from four provinces, aiming to enhance education service management efficiency aligned with decentralisation reforms.
The shift follows the ministry’s decision to delegate responsibilities to municipaldistrict administrations.
Chaired by ministry secretary of state Serey Chumneah, the three-day training took place from January 24-26 in Kratie province and drew over 150 attendees, including representatives from the National Committee for SubNational Democratic Development (NCDD), the Ministry of Economy and Finance and officials from municipal and district administrations in the four provinces: Kratie, Stung Treng, Ratanakkiri and Mondulkiri.
The ministry seeks to guide leaders and officers in municipal, district and relevant departments, advancing local management efficiency in line with the seventh-mandate government’s commitment to education sector reform.
During the event, Chumneah praised broad collaboration between state and private entities, noting Minister of Interior Sar Sokha’s crucial support for effective education service management across the sub-national level.
“Nationwide, the decentralisation of education functions is streamlining three crucial ‘ management functions’: early childhood education, primary education and informal education. Furthermore, it involves three vital ‘administrative support delegations’ to general secondary schools, youth development and physical education and sports for municipal-district administrations across the country, marking a pivotal shift in education management,” he said.
Chumneah added that even with the transfer of management to local administrations, the ministry remains accountable to the government
and the National Assembly. The boards of governors of municipal-district administrations must collaborate with the capital-provincial education departments to ensure responsibility for this crucial task in the sector.
“Furthermore, the boards of governors for municipaldistrict administrations must ensure that the implementation of functions aligns seamlessly with national policies, strategic plans, curricula and established norms and standards,” he said.
Chhort Bunthong, head of the Culture, Education and Tourist Relations department at the Royal Academy of Cambodia (RAC), said he supports training sub-national administration officials in education management. He emphasised its significance, noting the shift from municipal-district administrations solely receiving orders from the ministry to gaining the right to manage the primary education sector within their jurisdictions, thus requiring additional orientation and experience.
“Training is essential for exchanging ideas, experiences and principles … This training is a recurring necessity, ideally conducted annually or as needed, recognising the ongoing demand for effective management across the education sector,” he said.
He commended the municipal-district administrations for their authority over early childhood and informal education services, acknowledging the local expertise to adapt to specific situations for overall educational improvement.
Bunthong underscored the need for effective cooperation between local authorities and the ministry, saying that avoiding problems requires regular technical inspections by the central administration, namely the ministry.
This measure align with a government sub-decree issued in September 2023 which transfers education, youth and sport functions to municipal-district administrations, effective from 2024, in a bid to expand the decentralisation of education services.