# TOPIC 2. IMPROVING BASIC EDUCATION THROUGH THE JICA PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM — IMPROVED ACCESS TO PRIMARY EDUCATION IN RURAL AREAS THROUGH COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION PROJECT: CAMBODIA—

In 1970 Cambodia entered a period of civil war and oppression that continued for more than two decades. As a result, the nation lost considerable human and material resources during that time. The Pol Pot regime, which took power in 1975, destroyed Cambodia's educational infrastructure. As a result, Cambodia now faces an absolute shortage in the human resources that it needs to propel its reconstruction and recovery. Since the signing of the Paris Peace Agreement in 1991, the improvement of the educational environment has emerged along with the improvement of economic infrastructure and public health systems as a key priority in recovery and reconstruction policies. However, Cambodia's old educational facilities are becoming more and more inadequate in accommodating its growing child population, while teacher-training programs remain unable to keep pace with demand.

To deal with these situations, in 2000, JICA launched the Improved Access to Primary Education Project to improve the basic educational environment through the participation of local residents. This was carried out as part of the JICA Partnership Program where JICA commissioned an NGO, the Shanti Volunteer Association (SVA).

The project proposed by the SVA was not only limited to “hardware” aspects of education, such as the construction of school buildings and the provision of wells and toilets but also covered support at the “software” level in response to qualitative and quantitative shortfalls in teaching materials and personnel. For example, the SVA has been applying its knowledge of picture-book publication and distribution to teacher training and the improvement of teaching materials as well as to the management of school libraries.

To ensure the success of such projects, it will also be necessary to improve the organizational capabilities of local communities. The SVA is working to establish a community participation framework based on traditional Cambodian systems, emphasizing the role of “development monks.” They are Buddhist priests who promote activities together with local people to improve community life through such means as reducing poverty and protecting the environment. Cambodia has a long Buddhist tradition, and its people are very religious. Therefore, Buddhist temples, where people gather to hear sermons, play a central role in culture and education. Development monks are respected for their breadth of knowledge, and so it has been of great importance to promote residents’ awareness of community development and their ability to organize activities by fostering abilities of Buddhist priests. With this recognition, the SVA is helping to train them.

Development partnership projects that tap into the knowledge of NGOs can implement projects that more closely match local needs. Cooperation with NGOs and other private groups is becoming increasingly important, and it is expected that these partnership schemes will continue to be used not only in education but in a wide range of other fields as well.