Enhancing education planning capacities in Cambodia

Photograph copyright of UNESCO Bangkok.

In response to a request from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MoEYS) of Cambodia, UNESCO supported a training workshop in education planning for education staff. The three-day workshop, which ran from 5 to 7 October 2011 in Phnom Penh, focused on strengthening staff capacity and understanding of the linkages between educational policy, planning and budgeting.

As the education policy environment becomes increasingly complex, it is crucial that sector plans and budgets are informed by data and evidence. Simulation models such as the one adapted for Cambodia (known as CANPRO 2011+) can help to ensure the responsiveness of policy and programming to the current and future requirements of the country.

Specifically, the Education Policy and Strategy Simulation Model (EPSSim), developed by UNESCO and adapted for implementation in a wide range of countries across the world, assists Member States in the process of planning and budgeting their educational development. Drawing on a wealth of demographic and education data, the model enables governments to project their educational needs and the cost implications of different policy options. In this way, it is a critical tool that can be used to improve the credibility of education planning and support governments in the often difficult decisions of resource allocation.  

The training was co-hosted by UNESCO (both Phnom Penh and Bangkok Offices) and MoEYS (Department of Planning). It was attended by more than seventy participants from across Cambodia’s MoEYS, Ministry of Economy and Finance, and other key institutions.

During the training workshop, participants carried out practical exercises in simulation modeling in the context of educational planning. Issues covered during the workshop included:
•    the development of Cambodia’s Education Strategic Plan 2009-13 and Budget Strategic Plan;
•    the role and benefits of using simulation modeling in the policy process;
•    key indicators used in modeling (including enrolment and cost factors);
•    data availability and adaptation of the model to the provincial level; and
•    ways in which the model could be further improved to best meet Cambodia’s needs.

The participants reported finding the training not only very useful but also relevant to their work. In particular, they noted that the workshop improved their understanding of the importance of scenario planning in education planning and budgeting. Further, the participants provided inputs to adapt the model for implementation at the provincial level.

Key materials used in the training are available below:
Presentation - Introduction to simulation modeling
Presentation - Simulation modeling in practice
Exercise on simulation modeling

For further information please contact Kate Glazebrook (k.glazebrook@unesco.org), UNESCO Bangkok and Someth Yinsieng (s.yinsieng@unesco.org), UNESCO Phnom Penh.