Strengthening the Crossroads: Strengthening the Crossroads: Education, Gender Equality and Education, Gender Equality and

Economic DevelopmentEconomic Development

Putu M. KamayanaPutu M. Kamayana

Country Director, Cambodia Resident Mission Country Director, Cambodia Resident Mission

Asian Development BankAsian Development Bank

What is a country’s What is a country’s Crisis Vulnerability and Coping Crisis Vulnerability and Coping

Capacity?Capacity?

There are two main factors that There are two main factors that determine the extent to which a determine the extent to which a country’s growth and MDG country’s growth and MDG achievement are threatened by the achievement are threatened by the global economic crisis:global economic crisis:

1.1. Degree of integration into the Degree of integration into the global economyglobal economy

2.2. Capacity to cope with the Capacity to cope with the effects of any crisis effects of any crisis

Millennium Development Goals at Millennium Development Goals at RiskRisk

• The effects of the global economic crisis was first felt in The effects of the global economic crisis was first felt in higher unemployment, however the effects have rippled higher unemployment, however the effects have rippled through Asian economies.through Asian economies.

• Asian economies have seen a reduction in employment Asian economies have seen a reduction in employment and job creation, as well as cuts in household and and job creation, as well as cuts in household and government spending which have lead to higher levels of government spending which have lead to higher levels of poverty and threaten standards of education and health.poverty and threaten standards of education and health.

• Such a downturn has consequences for the achievement Such a downturn has consequences for the achievement of the MDGs.of the MDGs.

Countries Facing the Greatest Risk Countries Facing the Greatest Risk and Effect on Education and Gender and Effect on Education and Gender

EquityEquity• The countries that face the greatest The countries that face the greatest

risk in meeting the MDGs for risk in meeting the MDGs for ending ending poverty and hunger, reducing child poverty and hunger, reducing child malnutritionmalnutrition, and , and achieving Universal achieving Universal Primary EducationPrimary Education include: include: Lao PDR, Lao PDR, CambodiaCambodia, and Nepal, and Nepal. .

• Though children enroll in primary Though children enroll in primary education, they do not complete due education, they do not complete due to issues of poverty that are to issues of poverty that are compounded during a crisis. compounded during a crisis.

• Vulnerable groups have a heavy Vulnerable groups have a heavy burden to bear as a result of a crisis. burden to bear as a result of a crisis.

• Women are among those who are hurt Women are among those who are hurt the most. the most.

Effects of Global Economic Crisis on Effects of Global Economic Crisis on Women Women

The case of women in Cambodia…The case of women in Cambodia…

• Women dominate the workforce in garment Women dominate the workforce in garment factories.factories.

• Between 2008-2009 63,000 women workers (18% Between 2008-2009 63,000 women workers (18% of the workforce) in garment factories were laid off of the workforce) in garment factories were laid off due to closure of 50 factories.due to closure of 50 factories.

• Those that stayed in the workforce earned 18% Those that stayed in the workforce earned 18% less in real terms during that time.less in real terms during that time.

• Remittances to families in rural areas fell by 16%.Remittances to families in rural areas fell by 16%.

• Consequences: increasing migration for work, Consequences: increasing migration for work, reduced food consumption, and reduced reduced food consumption, and reduced expenditure on healthcare.expenditure on healthcare.

CrossroadsCrossroads

Empowerment of Women

Economic Development

Education and Skills Training

Investments in Education and Investments in Education and Returns to the EconomyReturns to the Economy

• Each year of schooling increases Each year of schooling increases individual output by 4-7%.individual output by 4-7%.

• Countries that improve literacy rates Countries that improve literacy rates by 20-30% have seen increases in by 20-30% have seen increases in GDP of 8-16%.GDP of 8-16%.

• Educating girls yields a higher rate Educating girls yields a higher rate of return than any other investment. of return than any other investment.

• In 2005, only 59 of 181 countries In 2005, only 59 of 181 countries had achieved gender parity in their had achieved gender parity in their gross enrolment rates for both gross enrolment rates for both primary and secondary education.primary and secondary education.

• Women experience an 18% return on Women experience an 18% return on secondary education, versus 14% for secondary education, versus 14% for boys.boys.

TVET: Providing Skills for Economic TVET: Providing Skills for Economic GrowthGrowth

• TVET sector presents opportunities for new innovative TVET sector presents opportunities for new innovative strategies to increase the number of young women strategies to increase the number of young women accessing secondary and post-secondary education. accessing secondary and post-secondary education.

• Only 20% of girls of the appropriate age in LDCs Only 20% of girls of the appropriate age in LDCs attend secondary school at all, let alone in TVET attend secondary school at all, let alone in TVET programs. programs.

• In Cambodia, it is even lower at 11% (UNICEF, 2007).In Cambodia, it is even lower at 11% (UNICEF, 2007).

Cambodia: Education & Training Cambodia: Education & Training Development Development

Progress…Progress…• 95% net enrollment 95% net enrollment

ratio for primary ratio for primary education.education.

• Increased total gross Increased total gross enrollment ratio for enrollment ratio for secondary education secondary education (58% for lower (58% for lower secondary and 30% secondary and 30% for upper secondary). for upper secondary).

• Gender parity Gender parity achieved in achieved in enrollments at primary enrollments at primary and secondary levels.and secondary levels.

Challenges…Challenges…• Completion of Grade 6 Completion of Grade 6

is leveling off and is leveling off and beginning to fall.beginning to fall.

• Secondary school Secondary school dropout is a major dropout is a major problem to achieving problem to achieving EFA (20% lower EFA (20% lower secondary dropout rate secondary dropout rate and 12% for upper and 12% for upper secondary dropout). secondary dropout).

• Females dropout from Females dropout from secondary school more secondary school more than males.than males.

Cambodia: Education & Training Cambodia: Education & Training Development (cont.)Development (cont.)

Progress…Progress…• Number of higher Number of higher

education institutions education institutions has increased has increased following policies to following policies to expand access expand access through public-private through public-private partnerships.partnerships.

• Female enrollment in Female enrollment in formal TVET courses is formal TVET courses is 25% but forms 25% but forms majority in informal majority in informal courses.courses.

Challenges…Challenges…• Higher education Higher education

institutions exhibit institutions exhibit low levels of low levels of institutional institutional efficiency and efficiency and quality.quality.

• Access to TVET Access to TVET courses is limited.courses is limited.

Strengthening Education and Strengthening Education and Training Training

to Promote Greater Gender Equityto Promote Greater Gender Equity

Gender Equity Focus vs. Female Gender Equity Focus vs. Female FocusFocus

Equity measures contributing to Equity measures contributing to achieving equality:achieving equality:

• Equality of accessEquality of access

• Equality in the learning processEquality in the learning process

• Equality of educational outcomesEquality of educational outcomes

• Equality of external resultsEquality of external results

Thank youThank you

Please visitPlease visit

http://www.adb.org/cambodiahttp://www.adb.org/cambodia

http://www.adb.org/genderhttp://www.adb.org/gender12