Children’s education advocacy groups from around Cambodia and the world are cooperating to launch an ambitious nationwide cycling campaign this month.
The cycling route extends over more than 400 kilometres across five provinces bordering the Tonle Sap Lake. The tour is being organised to promote children’s education and to help boost enrollment for the new school year 2023 to 2024.
The cycle touring campaign runs between November 13 and 20 and encourages students in target areas to prepare and enroll for the new school year, which begins in December.
The ride will see 500 students joining and day by day they will make their way from Phnom Penh to Banteay Meanchey.
The cycling campaign comes after studies have revealed that many children in Cambodia are not yet taking advantage of their opportunity to become fully educated.
Prum Seila, a representative of the organising committee of the cycling campaign from Aide et Action, said that the campaign for children’s education is intended to raise public awareness for all parents about efforts to protect children’s rights and ensure they can enjoy a good education.
“The campaign aims to encourage all children and parents to send their children to school regularly for a lifelong education,” he said.
Khuon Vicheka, spokeswoman for the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport, said that the cycling campaign to educate children is a good thing and the Ministry of Education and Sport continues to support and urge all parents to appreciate the value of encouraging their children to obtain a full education.
Seila said that the first day of the campaign is set to start from the Tuol Kork Primary School in Phnom Penh and continue to Kampong Chhnang province. The next day, the cyclists will continue to Kampong Thom province. Then they will go on to Siem Reap and, on the last day of the ride, finally reach Banteay Meanchey.
The campaign has scheduled discussions on the issue of social accountability related to health and education. Students will receive 1,000 notebooks from Aide et Action to encourage them to develop good habits.
Groups involved with the event include Aide et Action, Foyer Lataste along with participating partners, the European Union, and the Education Above All Foundation (EAC) programme of Qatar.
Together, the organisations are working to boost educational opportunities for disadvantaged children in Cambodia within the framework of 24 provinces and Phnom Penh.
(Article was published on Khmer Times / Publication date 15 November 2023)
