Why we so focus on suporting EDUCATION for young people of Cambodia.

Cambodia Education figures
In Cambodia 12.4% of government spending is in education. Of Cambodia's 14.4 million people, half are under age 22 - and so there is a burgeoning school age population. Education statistics are improving dramatically but are still very low by world standards. Education makes up a small part of the Government annual spend, and the problem is that in absolute terms, this expenditure is very low. Just 1.6% of Cambodia's GDP (Gross Domestic Product) according to UNESCO is spent on education - ranking around 170th in the world. Most western countries spend around 5.5% to 6.4% of GDP on education.
The educational human resources of Cambodia were lost over the past 30 years due to conflict and instability. In 1979, after the Khmer Rouge regime, the national education started from zero, and has gradually been developed until present. In 1996 the Cambodian educational system was been reformed to 12 years (6+3+3). For the academic year 2009-2010, the total number of students was 3,248,479 (1,540,077 female) and the number of educational staff 94,723. Cambodia have 10,115 schools with a total of 80,508 classrooms (source: Education Statistics & Indicators 2010/2011, MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, YOUTH AND SPORT, Department of Planning, Phnom Penh, Supported by UNICEF, March 2011).
Cambodia Education facts
Primary School Data
Net primary school enrolment ratio - The number of children enrolled in primary school who belong to the age group that officially corresponds to primary schooling, divided by the total population of the same age group.
• Males 93%
• Females 90%
Net primary school attendance - Percentage of children in the age group that officially corresponds to primary schooling who attend primary school. These data come from national household surveys.
• Males 73%
• Females 76%
• A UNESCO estimate is that 10% of eligible primary students currently do not attend school.
Primary school entrants reaching grade five - Percentage of the children entering the first grade of primary school who eventually reach grade five (equivalent of age 10 or 11 in western schools.)
• 56% (admin figures)
• 95% (survey figures.) Take your pick!
• World Bank figures suggest that in 2006 some 87% of students who begin primary school complete primary school. Among those below the poverty line however - with family incomes below $US30 per month - 65% complete primary school. Both results were significant improvements over the 1999-2000 figures.
Student to teacher ratio in primary schools.
• According to World Bank figures there are 50 students per teacher.
Secondary School Data and Tertiary
• World Bank figures for 2006 suggest that 79% of primary students progress to secondary school.
• 28% of girls and 33% of boys are in secondary school. (UNESCO) These figures have doubled since 1999.
• There is one secondary teacher for every 28 students. (World Bank data.)
• 75.6% of adults and 85.3% of youth (15-24) are literate.
• According to UNESCO 5% of the population of tertiary age are in tertiary education.

So why we so focus on support “education” for young people of Cambodia?
Knowledge or skill developed by a learning process or experience.
Education is central to development. It empowers people, strengthens nations, and is key to attaining the Millennium Development Goals.a
Getting an education is one of the best things you, as a young person, can do for yourself to ensure you lead a better, more fulfilling and prosperous life.
Education can significantly improve people's lives. It benefits people, society, and the world as a whole.
It enables people to read, reason, communicate, and make informed choices about their lives.
A more educated person often has more opportunities in life, earns more, and has a higher standard of living.
Skilled workers enable a country to develop and become wealthier, which benefits everyone.
A skilled labor force creates, applies and spreads new ideas and technologies. Without education, inventions like electricity, medicine, cars, computers, video games, and much more wouldn't exist!