1. Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport in Cambodia
Development and implementation of MLE policy in Cambodia’s highland provinces ​​
Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport in Cambodia4th International Conference on Language and Education:
Multilingual Education for All in Asia and the Pacific, November 2013

2. Contents ​​ Geography of Cambodia Recent history of Cambodia
Education system
Problems faced by ethnic minorities in accessing education
How was MLE developed?
Why is MLE status needed?
Why is a legal status of MLE needed?
How was the legal status accomplished?
Cambodia’s model of MLE
Successes
Challenges and recommendations
Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport in Cambodia 4th International Conference on Language and Education: Multilingual Education for All in Asia and the Pacific, November 2013  

3. 1 Geography of Cambodia ​​
South-East Asia
Borders shared with
Thailand, Laos, Vietnam
Capital: Phnom Penh
Population:14+ million
Ethnic minorities: 1+%
(Excluding the Cham,
Vietnamese and Laotians)
Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport in Cambodia 4th International Conference on Language and Education: Multilingual Education for All in Asia and the Pacific, November 2013  

4. Ethnic minorities in north-eastern Cambodia
Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport in Cambodia 4th International Conference on Language and Education:
Multilingual Education for All in Asia and the Pacific, November 2013  

5. 2 Recent Cambodian history
Affected by war for 4 decades:
Vietnam war ( )
Civil war from
Khmer Rouge
After Khmer Rouge
Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport in Cambodia 4th International Conference on Language and Education: Multilingual Education for All in Asia and the Pacific, November 2013  

6. 3 Education System
Civil war destroyed education: teachers, textbooks and school infrastructure
From 1980 Cambodia had to rebuild education and its school infrastructure
County-wide education situation
Preschools are increasing
97% enrollment in primary education
Focus on quality improvement at primary schools
Focus on increasing enrolment at secondary schools
Focus on improving higher education
Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport in Cambodia 4th International Conference on Language and Education: Multilingual Education for All in Asia and the Pacific, November 2013  

7. 4 Problems faced by ethnic minorities in accessing education
Teaching materials and text books are in a language the students do not understand. Lessons ignore the students’ own knowledge and experiences and give the impression that only the dominant language and culture are important.
Many ethnic minority children, especially those in remote areas, have no access to schools at all, have schools but no teachers
If there are schools and teachers, the teachers unlikely to share the students’ social and cultural background or to speak the students’ language.
Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport in Cambodia 4th International Conference on Language and Education: Multilingual Education for All in Asia and the Pacific, November 2013  

8. Education for ethnic minorities
Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport in Cambodia 4th International Conference on Language and Education: Multilingual Education for All in Asia and the Pacific, November 2013  

9. 5 How was MLE developed in Cambodia in NFE and formal education?
Collaboration between community elders, local government representatives and the NGO community
Using the Khmer script (national language) to develop orthographies in previously unwritten ethnic minority languages
Support from international and national linguistics experts in orthography development
Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport in Cambodia 4th International Conference on Language and Education: Multilingual Education for All in Asia and the Pacific, November 2013  

10. 6 Why is a formal status of MLE needed?
MLE is a new concept for Cambodia
To address government and public concerns:
- Establishment of independent indigenous state
- Empowerment of indigenous people can be felt as a threat by government officials
To ensure maintenance of culture and language
Government officials need clear guidance for implementation
Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport in Cambodia 4th International Conference on Language and Education: Multilingual Education for All in Asia and the Pacific, November 2013  

11. 7 What is the legal status of MLE in Cambodia?
Five indigenous scripts approved (MoEYS 2002)
Education Law (Council of Ministers 2007)
Indigenous Development Policy (Council of Ministers 2009)
MLE becomes part of CFS Policy (MoEYS 2009)
MLE Guidelines (MoEYS 2010)
Decree of Identification of Languages for Khmer National Learners Who Are Indigenous People, (MoEYS, 2013)
MLE included in Education Sector Plan
Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport in Cambodia 4th International Conference on Language and Education: Multilingual Education for All in Asia and the Pacific, November 2013  

12. 7.1 Education Law Article 24: Languages of teaching and learning
Khmer language is the principal language of instruction and it must be a basic study program in public schools.
For private schools, there must be a Khmer language study program as a basic subject.
Language use for Cambodians from ethnic minority groups shall be determined by the proclamation of the Ministry in charge of education.
Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport in Cambodia 4th International Conference on Language and Education: Multilingual Education for All in Asia and the Pacific, November 2013  

13. 7.2 Indigenous Minority Development Policy (2009): Article 2.3
Non-Formal Education is established in order to improve and strengthen the knowledge, culture, and language of illiterate Indigenous Minority people including out-of-school youth, to increase literacy and to develop capacity in life skills and vocational skills.
Non-formal education includes classes in literacy, math, life skills, social work skills, and basic education for those not enrolled in school.
Text books will need to be developed up to grade 4 in two languages: Khmer and the vernacular language.
Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport in Cambodia 4th International Conference on Language and Education: Multilingual Education for All in Asia and the Pacific, November 2013  

14. 7.3 MLE Decree (2013) MLE guidance has upgrade to Prakas (Decree)
to identification of languages for Khmer national learners
who are indigenous people
With 11 articles
MLE is conducted at community and public schools, a bridge for them to learn Khmer language and a place where Khmer national learners who are indigenous people are learning.
Curriculum and textbooks for MLE shall be approved by the MoEYS
Teaching methodologies for MLE shall be approved by the MoEYS
Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport in Cambodia 4th International Conference on Language and Education: Multilingual Education for All in Asia and the Pacific, November 2013  

15. 7.3 MLE Decree (2013) Continuing…
At the end of the each academic year, a test shall be carried out in order to measure students’ capacities for language knowledge in line with the language knowledge standard as provided for in the annex of the Prakas.
The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport; relevant authorities at all levels and relevant communities shall monitor and evaluate the MLE implementation at the MLE project site at least two (2) times per year and shall regularly make a report on the monitoring and evaluation results in a timely manner.
Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport in Cambodia 4th International Conference on Language and Education: Multilingual Education for All in Asia and the Pacific, November 2013  

16. 7.4 MLE Guidelines (2010) Establishment of school boards
Roles and responsibilities of school boards
School preparations and school buildings
School calendars
Teacher selection and teacher training
Teacher stipends
Curriculum materials
MLE model
Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport in Cambodia 4th International Conference on Language and Education: Multilingual Education for All in Asia and the Pacific, November 2013  

17. 8 How was the legal status accomplished?
Working and learning together (Government and NGOs)
Producing quality indigenous minority education
MLE materials edited and approved by MoEYS
National textbooks approval committee
New education office in the Ministry to oversee MLE
Sub-national MLE replicating teams
Spelling systems using the Khmer alphabet have been developed and approved for 5 ethnic minority languages in Cambodia
MLE currently operating in 4 north-east provinces
Advocacy at sub-national and central government
Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport in Cambodia 4th International Conference on Language and Education: Multilingual Education for All in Asia and the Pacific, November 2013  

18. Textbooks approval committee
Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport in Cambodia 4th International Conference on Language and Education: Multilingual Education for All in Asia and the Pacific, November 2013  

19. 9 Cambodia’s model of MLE
Preschool
Primary Education
Non-Formal Education
Semester 1
Mother tongue language 100 %
Semester 2
Vernacular language 80%
Khmer 20%
Grade 1
Mother tongue language 80 %
Khmer 20%
Grade 2
Mother tongue language 60 %
Khmer 40%
Grade 3
Mother tongue language 30 %
Khmer 70%
Grade 4
Khmer 100%
Year 1
Mother tongue language 90 %
Khmer 10%
Year 2
Mother tongue language 50 %
Khmer 50%
Year 3
Mother tongue language 10 %
Khmer 90%
Year 4
Khmer 100%
Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport in Cambodia 4th International Conference on Language and Education: Multilingual Education for All in Asia and the Pacific, November 2013  

20. 10 Successes Clear MLE management structure at all MoEYS levels
The legal status provides clarity and reassurance for government officials who implement the program
Addressing the need for indigenous education
Can act as model for other countries
Maintenance of cultures and languages
Experiences in learning and sharing
MoEYS capable of leadership - handover in progress
Students, their parents and their communities recognize the benefits of the program in helping them achieve their educational goals
Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport in Cambodia 4th International Conference on Language and Education: Multilingual Education for All in Asia and the Pacific, November 2013  

21. 11 Challenges and recommendations
MoEYS changing leadership (retirements)
Compartmentalization of MoEYS departments
Quick conclusions on language skills of ethnic minority communities
Recommendations:
Create clear road map of implementation
Keep building human resources at all levels
Indigenous community is at the core of program success
Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport in Cambodia 4th International Conference on Language and Education: Multilingual Education for All in Asia and the Pacific, November 2013  

22. Thanks you for your attention អរគុណសម្រាប់ការយកចិត្តទុកដាក់ស្តាប់ ​​
Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport in Cambodia
Thanks you for your attention អរគុណសម្រាប់ការយកចិត្តទុកដាក់ស្តាប់ ​​
Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport in Cambodia 4th International Conference on Language and Education: Multilingual Education for All in Asia and the Pacific, November 2013