Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training secretary of state Pok Pann asked development partners to examine the possibility of providing internet services and computers to a programme which offers educational opportunities to young people

Pann was addressing a two-day national workshop on employment counselling for the leaders and facilitators of the Basic Education Equivalency Programme (BEEP), hosted by the ministry on May 15-16.

“[Pann] requested that development partners consider providing internet connections and computers to support the BEEP system and support counselling,” said a ministry statement.

Pann described BEEP as a model programme to restore technical and vocational training to young people who have lost their educational opportunities, and those who are too busy to attend school.

He explained that the advancement of technology made it possible for BEEP to offer a flexible digital education to young people, up to the equivalent of ninth grade. The programme can be accessed on a computer or smart phone at any time or day or night.

“The project is the result of a collaboration between the labour ministry and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. It is now considered a model programme by both ministries,” he said.

He added that each of the two ministries runs 12 study centres. 2,000 students are enrolled, with 843 having already graduated from the programme.

“The BEEP certificates they earned will allow them to pursue further training,” he said.

The ministry statement said Sardar Umar Alam, UNESCO representative to Cambodia, and Nadia Ottiger, deputy director of the Cooperation of Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), also attended the workshop.

The first BEEP study centre was formally opened in February 2019. The programme is funded and supported by UNESCO in Cambodia, the SDC and Smart Axiata.