On Friday, 17th November 2017 at Sofitel Hotel in Phnom Penh, a joint High-Level Meeting was called in by the Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, HE Dr. Hang Chuon Naron. The meeting brought together representatives of different ministries, the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning, SEAMEO CELLL and DVV International in a first step towards a Lifelong Learning Policy for Cambodia.
The goal of the workshop was to find a shared understanding of Lifelong Learning (LLL) and its meaning internationally and in the Cambodian setting, in order to prepare for its translation into the national legal framework.
From the international guests’ side, Ms Margarete Sach-Israel, Chief Programme Coordinator of UNESCO, shared important insights on LLL from the Global Education Agenda of the Sustainable Development Goal No. 4. Dr. Le Huy Lam, Director of SEAMEO CELLL, contextualised LLL within the Asian context and shared some good practices from the policy framework of neighbouring countries. Lastly, Mr.Uwe Gartenschlaeger, Regional Director of DVV International, talked about the Lao example in the drafting of its own LLL policy.
In the subsequent discussion with representatives of the relevant ministries, the importance of having a clear understanding of the real situation was underlined, as well as the need to identify priorities and challenges for an equitable education in Cambodia and the need of participation and cooperation of all relevant ministries involved in Lifelong Learning because of its cross-sectorial character.
The meeting signified the promise of a LLL Policy in Cambodia’s framework, which will incorporate the concept of equitable education and Lifelong Learning opportunities for all in its core.