By Eath Daravuth
The Mekong Times
Ninety-three percent of Cambodian children have access to education, according to a new report from UNESCO.
“The figure shows that Cambodia ranks 21st among 129 countries [where children] receive education,” said Chey Chab, undersecretary of state for the Ministry of Education, during a press conference held June 12 to mark the World Day Against Child Labor.
While he called on Cambodian teachers and parents to encourage their children to go to school, Chey Chab did not provide any supporting figures.
The claims go against a statement released to mark the occasion by Cambodian Independent Teacher’s Association (CITA) President Rong Chhun.
“[The number of] children who work and who do not receive education is nearly 2 million” he said. “This is caused by their families’ poor living conditions, and when the prices of goods on markers soar, many children are removed from schools by their parents to exploit their labor,” Rong Chhun claimed.
Rong Chhun pointed out that the more disturbing examples of child labor are found in brick kilns, rubber plantations, salt fields, fishing lots and restaurants. He said the ongoing problem of child labor is a result of the Cambodian government’s failure to implement poverty and corruption reduction strategies and to respect the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The CITA president is called on the government to regularly implement provisions stipulated in the UN convention so that children will hopefully receive an education. “Forcing children to do hard work can affect the national economy,” he said.
The International Labor Organization (ILO) said that approximately 75 million children are working in the world without access to education. “We … have to give them an education. They do not have the obligation to work to feed their families, but they have to receive high-quality education,” said ILO Director Juan Somavia.
According to the organization, every year 60 countries across the world organize a march to mark World Day Against Child Labor. This year approximately 300 children took part in a march carrying signs in Phnom Penh with such slogans such as “No child labor, no poverty” and “Parents send children to study not to work.”
The Mekong Times
Ninety-three percent of Cambodian children have access to education, according to a new report from UNESCO.
“The figure shows that Cambodia ranks 21st among 129 countries [where children] receive education,” said Chey Chab, undersecretary of state for the Ministry of Education, during a press conference held June 12 to mark the World Day Against Child Labor.
While he called on Cambodian teachers and parents to encourage their children to go to school, Chey Chab did not provide any supporting figures.
The claims go against a statement released to mark the occasion by Cambodian Independent Teacher’s Association (CITA) President Rong Chhun.
“[The number of] children who work and who do not receive education is nearly 2 million” he said. “This is caused by their families’ poor living conditions, and when the prices of goods on markers soar, many children are removed from schools by their parents to exploit their labor,” Rong Chhun claimed.
Rong Chhun pointed out that the more disturbing examples of child labor are found in brick kilns, rubber plantations, salt fields, fishing lots and restaurants. He said the ongoing problem of child labor is a result of the Cambodian government’s failure to implement poverty and corruption reduction strategies and to respect the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The CITA president is called on the government to regularly implement provisions stipulated in the UN convention so that children will hopefully receive an education. “Forcing children to do hard work can affect the national economy,” he said.
The International Labor Organization (ILO) said that approximately 75 million children are working in the world without access to education. “We … have to give them an education. They do not have the obligation to work to feed their families, but they have to receive high-quality education,” said ILO Director Juan Somavia.
According to the organization, every year 60 countries across the world organize a march to mark World Day Against Child Labor. This year approximately 300 children took part in a march carrying signs in Phnom Penh with such slogans such as “No child labor, no poverty” and “Parents send children to study not to work.”
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