Newspaper cuttings from The Phnom Penh Post and The Cambodia Daily cover issues of poverty and development between March 30 and April 5.
New scholarship programme for poor students
Primary and lower secondary students will receive 240,000 riel ($60) a year and upper secondary students will receive 360,000 riel ($90), according to a March 17 decree from Prime Minister Hun Sen, released by the Ministry of Education this week. (Gov’t offers bursaries for poor)
Inclusive learning for people with disability is necessary
However, though the ministry itself acknowledged room for improvement, observers yesterday were uncertain whether it appreciated just how much improvement was required, while also noting that 2014’s achievements still fell well short of what the Kingdom’s disabled children need. (Disabled education lacking)
School budgets lacking
The Cambodian Independent Teachers Association (CITA) demanded in a letter sent on Monday to the Ministry of Education that all Cambodian secondary schools be paid their full yearly program budget after complaints were lodged by some teachers that the funds had not yet been received. (Teachers call for school budgets)
KOICA starts an $8 million project
The New Village Movement, which is funded by an $8 million grant from South Korea, is starting as a pilot project in Takeo, Kampong Speu and Tbong Khmum provinces, project director Song Joo Kim said. (KOICA aid program under way)
Disaster response calling service starts
Starting today, residents of Banteay Meanchey, Pursat and Kampong Thom provinces can enroll in a disaster-response calling service through their phones in anticipation of the impending rainy season. (Disaster alert system begins)
Measles-free declared
The World Health Organization has declared Cambodia measles-free, having not registered a confirmed case in over three years, marking a success in combating what was once the country’s most deadly communicable disease. (Cambodia ‘measles free’, WHO reports)
Savings-led community-lending model alternative to MFIs
Similar to community banks, saving groups are composed of rural communities who pool their cash together and take out loans from the group, paying interest back to the pool or individual members rather than to a microfinance institution (MFI). (A lending alternative to MFIs)
Protect indigenous people and their forests
And then there is the reality. These legal instruments have gone almost entirely unenforced and unimplemented in the existing culture of impunity and corruption. (Government Should Protect Indigenous Peoples and Their Forests)
