Download Strengthening Crossroads: Achieving Millennium Development Goals

Strengthening the Crossroads:
Education, Gender Equality and
Economic Development
Putu M. Kamayana
Country Director, Cambodia Resident Mission
Asian Development Bank
What is a country’s
Crisis Vulnerability and Coping
Capacity?
There are two main factors that
determine the extent to which a
country’s growth and MDG
achievement are threatened by the
global economic crisis:
1. Degree of integration into the global
economy
2. Capacity to cope with the effects of
any crisis
Millennium Development Goals at Risk
• The effects of the global economic crisis was first felt in
higher unemployment, however the effects have rippled
through Asian economies.
• Asian economies have seen a reduction in employment
and job creation, as well as cuts in household and
government spending which have lead to higher levels of
poverty and threaten standards of education and health.
• Such a downturn has consequences for the achievement
of the MDGs.
Countries Facing the Greatest Risk and
Effect on Education and Gender Equity
• The countries that face the greatest risk in
meeting the MDGs for ending poverty and
hunger, reducing child malnutrition, and
achieving Universal Primary Education
include: Lao PDR, Cambodia, and Nepal.
• Though children enroll in primary
education, they do not complete due to
issues of poverty that are compounded
during a crisis.
• Vulnerable groups have a heavy burden to
bear as a result of a crisis.
• Women are among those who are hurt the
most.
Effects of Global Economic Crisis on
Women
The case of women in Cambodia…
• Women dominate the workforce in garment
factories.
• Between 2008-2009 63,000 women workers
(18% of the workforce) in garment factories
were laid off due to closure of 50 factories.
• Those that stayed in the workforce earned 18%
less in real terms during that time.
• Remittances to families in rural areas fell by
16%.
• Consequences: increasing migration for work,
reduced food consumption, and reduced
expenditure on healthcare.
Crossroads
Empowerment of Women
Education
and Skills
Training
Economic
Development
Investments in Education and
Returns to the Economy
• Each year of schooling increases
individual output by 4-7%.
• Countries that improve literacy rates by
20-30% have seen increases in GDP of 816%.
• Educating girls yields a higher rate of
return than any other investment.
• In 2005, only 59 of 181 countries had
achieved gender parity in their gross
enrolment rates for both primary and
secondary education.
• Women experience an 18% return on
secondary education, versus 14% for
boys.
TVET: Providing Skills for Economic Growth
• TVET sector presents opportunities for new innovative
strategies to increase the number of young women
accessing secondary and post-secondary education.
• Only 20% of girls of the appropriate age in LDCs attend
secondary school at all, let alone in TVET programs.
• In Cambodia, it is even lower at 11% (UNICEF, 2007).
Cambodia: Education & Training
Development
Progress…
• 95% net enrollment ratio
for primary education.
• Increased total gross
enrollment ratio for
secondary education
(58% for lower secondary
and 30% for upper
secondary).
• Gender parity achieved in
enrollments at primary
and secondary levels.
Challenges…
• Completion of Grade 6
is leveling off and
beginning to fall.
• Secondary school
dropout is a major
problem to achieving
EFA (20% lower
secondary dropout rate
and 12% for upper
secondary dropout).
• Females dropout from
secondary school more
than males.
Cambodia: Education & Training
Development (cont.)
Progress…
• Number of higher
education institutions has
increased following
policies to expand access
through public-private
partnerships.
• Female enrollment in
formal TVET courses is
25% but forms majority
in informal courses.
Challenges…
• Higher education
institutions exhibit low
levels of institutional
efficiency and quality.
• Access to TVET courses
is limited.
Strengthening Education and Training
to Promote Greater Gender Equity
Gender Equity Focus vs. Female Focus
Equity measures contributing to achieving
equality:
• Equality of access
• Equality in the learning process
• Equality of educational outcomes
• Equality of external results
Thank you
Please visit
http://www.adb.org/cambodia
http://www.adb.org/gender
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