The Government of Cambodia was committed to pro-poor education reform over the past decade through its Education Strategic Plan (ESP) and Education Sector Support Program (ESSP) 2001–2005, both of which were consistent with the National Poverty Reduction Strategy, 2003–2005. The ESP and ESSP were revised to consolidate and extend education reforms during 2004–2008. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) supported the reform through the First Education Sector Development Program (ESDP I), which was implemented during 2002–2006, focusing on secondary and postsecondary education and training. The government recognized the need to expand education and training along with lifelong learning opportunities for the large and growing number of out-of-school, unemployed and underemployed youth aged 12–21 years. Other related development challenges to be addressed included increased participation and equitable access of the poorest families to both primary and secondary education, reduced cost burden on the poor, and a new financing mechanism, especially beyond the first 9 years of basic and secondary education.
To meet these challenges, the Second Education Sector Development Program (ESDP II) was designed to build on the achievements of ESDP I and to support the broad strategic directions of ESP 2004–2008 and the revised ESSP 2004–2008. The ESDP II was to be propoor and to target gender parity, poverty reduction, and ethnic minority access to education. The ESDP II implementation involved the government, nongovernment organizations, and with the cooperation of other ADB development partners.
This report validates the completion report’s assessment of the project. IED overall assessment: Successful.