ADB approves 80 mln USD loan to Cambodia for education

PHNOM PENH, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved an 80 million-U.S.-dollar loan to Cambodia for enhancing the access and quality of secondary education in the Southeast Asian country, the bank said in a news release on Thursday.

The Secondary Education for Human Capital Competitiveness Project will expand the number of inclusive climate-resilient school facilities, including an additional 400 classrooms, to address classroom overcrowding and expand access to quality upper secondary education, the news release said.

"Cambodia needs to accelerate the shift to higher value-added economic activities, especially those driven by technology, to remain globally competitive and consolidate its remarkable economic progress in the recent past," said ADB Country Director for Cambodia Jyotsana Varma.

"A skilled and educated workforce is a prerequisite for this to happen. Building on ADB's ongoing investments in education and skills development, this project aims to maximize the potential of Cambodia's young population to drive future economic growth," she added.

Net enrollment in upper secondary education remains low in Cambodia at 35.5 percent due to factors such as inadequate school facilities and economic constraints, especially for boys who are expected to contribute to their household income, according to the news release.

The project will promote education in science, technology, engineering and math subjects to prepare a future cohort of workers possessing skills aligned with industry demand, the news release said. ■