The NGO Education Partnership (NEP) continues to amplify the voices of civil society organizations (CSOs) in shaping Cambodia’s education policies. On February 6, 2025, NEP hosted its first quarterly Education Champion Leader Meeting (ECLM) of the year, bringing together 71 education-focused NGOs and CSOs (24 female). The meeting served as a platform to review and refine a joint statement on key education challenges, as well as to discuss strategies for strengthening the Provincial Joint Technical Working Group (P-JTWG), the Education Sector Working Group (ESWG), and the collaborative efforts of thematic working groups.
The meeting gathered organizations working across various educational sub-sectors, including early childhood education, primary education, disability and inclusion, lifelong learning, school reform, secondary education, higher education, and teacher capacity development. Many participants represent marginalized communities—including persons with disabilities, girls, indigenous groups, and out-of-school children—ensuring their concerns and recommendations were reflected in the joint statement.
Against the backdrop of the National Education Congress led by the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport (MoEYS), NEP facilitated the collective effort of its member organizations to draft and submit a joint statement. This document provides a comprehensive review of education policy implementation, identifies gaps, and offers recommendations to enhance equitable access to quality education.
Participants actively engaged in reviewing and refining the joint statement, ensuring that it accurately represented their observations and recommendations before submission to MoEYS. Mr. Khieu Chetra, Executive Director of NEP, reaffirmed NEP’s commitment to fostering dialogue and strengthening partnerships among education stakeholders.
Insights from Participants
For Mr. Ly Sovan, a Project Support Officer at Krousar Thmey who has a visual impairment, the meeting provided an invaluable platform for direct engagement. “I’m excited to attend this meeting, and I’m grateful that NEP provides a platform for NGOs working on disability rights, children’s rights, and other important issues. This space allows us to discuss challenges, share knowledge and experiences, and collaboratively find solutions,” he shared. “I’ve gained a better understanding of the joint statement submitted to MoEYS, learned about work across different sectors, and explored key challenges and recommendations from the discussions.”
Mr. Kim Dara from World Education highlighted the importance of collective reflection, saying, “I think it’s a great event to bring representatives of NEP’s member organizations together to reflect on NEP’s Position Paper before sharing it with MoEYS.”
Mr. Satya Roeurn, a representative of P-ESWG in Battambang, emphasized the value of collaboration: “It is a great opportunity to be part of this important workshop, where NEP members collectively push for equality, inclusion, and equity in the education system. I truly enjoyed sharing about our work at ForumZFD in Battambang while learning from others about best practices and solutions. I particularly gained insights from the six thematic discussions and the session on social inclusion and gender equality in education. This meeting reinforced the importance of networking, evidence-based advocacy, and understanding JTWG mechanisms.”
Mr. Oeurn Bora from Tbong Khmum P-ESWG echoed the importance of these gatherings: “ECLM meetings are crucial for strengthening the network of educational support organizations. They provide a platform to share experiences, address challenges, and gain a deeper understanding of new policies. The discussion on teacher capacity building, school reform, and education sector innovation was especially insightful. We also explored NEP’s three key strategies, best practices in research, and the need to improve P-JTWG, JTWG, and ESWG processes. Moving forward, NEP should engage more with development partners such as UNICEF, the World Bank, and USAID in all meetings.”
Looking Ahead
As NEP continues to facilitate collaboration among CSOs, its efforts remain vital in advocating for inclusive and quality education for all. By fostering dialogue and engagement, NEP ensures that the perspectives of marginalized communities are not only heard but also integrated into national education policies.
