FLP Literacy Teachers Receive ICT Capacity Training

Cambodian Garment Training Institute (CGTI) and the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC), in cooperation with UNESCO and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) have organised a Virtual Orientation Workshop to build the capacity of factory literacy teachers on the Utilization of Online Training Platform (ZOOM) on Friday, 7 May 2021. Over 30 participants from the Department of Non-Formal Education, Provincial Office of Education (PoEYS), and literacy teachers from partner factories in the program were invited to attend this workshop.

In support of MoEY’s objectives, UNESCO and GMAC are partnering to provide lifelong learning opportunities among garment factory workers across Cambodia. This strategic partnership through GMAC’s Cambodian Garment Training Institute (CGTI) will help ensure that the accredited functional literacy and numeracy package being implemented in partner factories under the Factory Literacy Programme (FLP) directly supports the professional development of the literacy programme learners.  CGTI and GMAC have been supporting lifelong leaning for factory literacy students through Upskilling programme which is the next step for students who have acquired basic functional literacy skills.

During the opening ceremony, Mr. Andrew Tey, CGTI Center Director, expressed his sincere appreciation to MoEYS and UNESCO teams for helping CGTI team make this orientation workshop possible. This orientation workshop is a welcome initiative of CGTI and GMAC in advancing FLP Programme during Covid 19 pandemic and provides much-needed support to Factory Members and workers through education and training services. He added that the Upskilling will help workers to get a better quality of life, career and dignity by continuing to improve their skills and productivity.

In his remarks, Mr. Kuoch Koulom-A, Director of Non-Formal Education of the MoEYS acknowledged the importance of this workshop for factory literacy teachers particularly and in general for all teachers in NFE programs. He pointed out that the implementation of social awareness and guidelines issued by the government and MoEYS during the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced Teaching and Learning (T&L) activities, both in formal and non-formal sectors. Lastly, Mr. Danny Padilla, Chief of Education Unit at UNESCO Cambodia, expressed his sincere appreciation to all the stakeholders for their commitment and efforts towards this initiative. He added that is necessary to build the capacity of teachers for them to be able to use this kind of learning platform tools and he encouraged MoEYS, PoEYS and factory literacy teachers to implement both FLP and Basic Education Equivalency Programme (BEEP) to provides more flexible lifelong learning pathways for workers. UNESCO hopes to collaborate with more factories throughout the country to promote literacy for their workers as part of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and calls for continued support from partners and government alike.

Since its inception in 2016, Factory Literacy Programme has served over 2000 workers across 12 provinces through 25 partner factories. FLP provides a customized literacy and mathematic learning package for garment workers that were unable to complete their primary education. Through the programme, workers also have the opportunity to learn key skills in financial and legal literacy, reproductive health, nutrition, worker rights, communications and productivity. Upon completion of the eight-month programme, learners receive a primary equivalency certificate which gives them the option to pursue further education at formal or non-formal education institutes.

This workshop is part of the second phase of the Decent Employment for Youth in Cambodia programme with financial support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and UNESCO.