NGOs vision of human resource development is premised on the principle that development is about people. NGOs continue to endorse human resource development and capacity building as critical to Cambodia's development. This endorsement implies coordinated
cross-sectoral efforts and a commitment to upgrade management and professional capacity at all levels and improve the quality of primary, secondary and tertiary education.
- NGOs urge donors to adopt a long term approach to capacity building at both the individual and institutional level. Effective human resource development requires planning, financial support, technical assistance and time. Priority attention should be given to raising the competency levels of government staff, particularly in the provinces.
- NGOs caution against over reliance on short-term technical assistance which can compromise the implementation and sustainability of projects and initiatives.
Education is the prime catalyst for both social and economic development. There is a direct correlation between poverty and education. An estimated 81 percent of the poor live in households headed by individuals with no formal education or a very low level of education.
There is a pressing need to increase both quality and access to education, with particular emphasis on extending access to rural populations, girls, minority groups and disabled people. Cambodia's present population is around 11.4 million, of which 46 percent are under 18 years of age. This rate is among the highest in the world - on average children comprise only 36 percent of the total population. Children represent an outstanding resource, every effort must be made to ensure that their basic right to education is realized.
- NGOs emphasize the need to address the high rate of repetition and dropout,
especially in grades one and two as a short term priority issue.
- NGOs highlight the imperative to meet the basic education needs of all citizens,
including preschool, primary, secondary and adult literacy .
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