By Wang Yanfang
Intro: Cambodia has launched a five-year action plan which aims to ensure quality schooling for all children including those with disabilities.
A five-year inclusive action plan which aims to ensure quality education for all children including those with disabilities was launched in the Southeast Asian country of Cambodia at the start of the second half of this year.
The Inclusive Education Action Plan 2024-2028 was rolled out by the country’s Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). This action plan represents a major milestone in the country’s educational development.
“By addressing the barriers faced by children with disabilities, we aim to create an educational system that is truly inclusive and equitable. Together with our partners, we will ensure that every child in Cambodia has the opportunity to learn and thrive,” said Excellency Ung Borath, Secretary of State, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, during the action plan’s launch in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia.
The plan focuses on fostering a comprehensive, inclusive and supportive environment for children with disabilities by changing societal attitudes to promote inclusivity in education. In addition, this educational framework provides necessary tools and support to ensure universal access to assistive technology and services as well as collaboration across UN organizations, different government department, NGOs and other partners.
2019 Cambodia Population Census revealed that 689,532 people aged 5 and up have a disability, with approximately 37,500 of them being children between the ages of 5 and 14.
For 7-year-old Duong Chay, who lives in a small village on the outskirts of the famous Angkor Wat temples and dreams of becoming a doctor despite being hard of hearing and facing the challenge of autism, the plan gives hope.
Thanks to the help from a kind man named Abraham, Chay can enroll at the Siem Reap Special Education High School for children with hearing and visual impairments, marking a pivotal turn in her life. For Chay, the school is not only a place where she can receive an education, but also a foundation upon which she can build her future. She said she was fueled by a profound sense of responsibility and hopes to become a role model for others.
“Chay’s journey underscores our mission: to empower every child, regardless of their physical abilities, to dream big and achieve even bigger,” says Tun Buntorng, the school’s deputy director.
Dr Will Parks, UNICEF Cambodia Representative, emphasizes the plan’s significance.” This plan is a major step forward in ensuring the rights of children with disabilities in Cambodia,” he says. “It guarantees that no child, including those like Duong Chay, will be left behind in accessing quality education.”
