·         The NGO community urges the RGC and MoEF to focus their report for this CG on the financial distribution of committed funds for the implementation of the education reform program to date and future commitments to the sector.  Without more money for education and a transparent, accountable allocation and disbursement system of funding, the shortfall in financial resources for education defeats the purpose of planning for future reform.  Donors, government and NGOs all need to continue efforts toward financial transparency and accountability.  

Increased funding for the education sector is included in the MTEF.  Indicators for increased spending and use of PAP included in Action Plan matrix.  The need for improvement in disbursement is included, but actions and indicators to address these problems are not elaborated.

·         The NGO community endorses the government’s commitment to Education for All guidelines in its efforts to provide a grade 1-9 education for all Cambodian children, especially to the target populations of the poor, girls, disabled and ethnic minorities.  There are many useful examples of NGO programs in areas which can assist the MoEYS to develop implementation strategies of these policies.

Included in the text although there are no specific strategies for coordination with NGOs.

·         The NGO community urges more emphasis on non-formal education in its efforts to reduce poverty, citing the incontestable links between literacy and poverty.  This emphasis should be evident across all levels of policy and planning.  The non-formal sector should stand alone as a separate, valuable entity in the education reform process and have resources allocated to it that do not detract from the formal sector.  The NGOs again cite successful NGO programs that can be used as models by the MoEYS.   

Included in the text.  US$ 3.5 million sought for non-formal education in the Action Plan matrix.

·         The NGO community group continues to urge the decentralization of school governance and education programming across all levels particularly down to the local schools and their communities, so the education system belongs to and is influenced by all stakeholders.  The NGO community suggests that MoEYS, with the help of donors and NGOs, target local institutions and populations as recipients of money through transparent disbursement arrangements.  NGOs feel that continuation and/or expansion of direct grant support to locally managed programs such as the ministry’s EQIP program, and recurrent grants to school for supplies introduced by the PAP, are extremely beneficial to the reform program.  

Not included.