This book supply chain analysis, compiled by a team of Global Book Alliance in Action researchers, identifies strengths and weaknesses in each link of the book supply chain, and provides recommendations to ensure that all learners can access sufficient, appropriate, high-quality reading materials in order to improve reading outcomes in Cambodia. The excerpt below offers a snapshot of some of the identified issues and proposed solutions from the analysis. Read the full report, linked below, for more information. English and Khmer-language versions are available.
The multiple challenges relating to the provision of books in Cambodia result from the fact that steps
in the supply chain, from planning and forecasting through to active book use and management in
schools, are not implemented in a coordinated manner.
Although in 2016, Curriculum Frameworks for all subjects were approved, as were syllabi in 2018, as of the writing of this report, no new textbooks have been created, due to budgetary constraints. To
implement the new curriculum, 52 textbooks will be revised to match it as closely as possible.
No central government funding is allocated for essential reading materials (ERMs). The purchase of ERMs is left to each school’s operations budget fund, which must cover a range of school expenses and cannot consistently ensure an adequate provision of books. Moreover, there is a lack of understanding by parents on the significant role that ERMs play in reading, which reduces the level of market demand for them.
Cambodia has a very limited private publishing sector and thus a limited supply of ERMs. This publishing gap leads to an overdependence on nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to supply the ERM market. Donor-funded projects are not able to provide materials across the entire country, and consequently, they focus on specific localities, which in turn limits access for students outside of these localities.
Addressing these shortfalls throughout the book supply chain—including ERMs as part of the government procurement policy—will require centralized oversight through a dedicated department within the MoEYS. Although ministerial policy is that the curriculum is open to private publishers to develop textbooks, the practice is still that all development of textbooks is done by the parastatal Publishing and Distribution House (PDH). Opening up the procurement process to more competition
while providing training to private publishers to increase their capacity would not only stimulate sector activity, thereby potentially expanding book access more broadly, but it would also allow for budgetary
resources to be allocated to the production of ERMs through cost reductions that result from private sector efficiencies.
There are positive measures that have been undertaken that will lead to improved access to materials. One example is the significant progress that has been made through Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport’s recent implementation of the automated Track and Trace system, a management system for textbook delivery. Initially funded by the World Bank Enhancing Book Distribution in Cambodia Project, the Track and Trace system allows for more efficient and timely planning and forecasting. The Track and Trace system will have a tremendous impact on advancing this critical phase of the supply chain.
Donors have been actively engaged in producing innovative types of materials in Khmer to teach reading and math. All Children Reading (ACR) Cambodia develops programs and resources that aim to provide meaningful access to all students, and it has introduced supplementary student books (SSBs), which are structured decodable materials that complement and bridge textbooks through supplementary reading materials (SRMs) and guides for teaching activities. Although both decodable and leveled books are currently rare, Room to Read and Kampuchean Action to Promote Education (KAPE) have been instrumental in encouraging the creation of leveled readers. KAPE has produced an app that can potentially be used to create leveled text using empirical analysis.
Other efforts include significant investments in library modernization efforts to increase access to books and educational apps, in mobile and nontraditional libraries, as well as capacity-building efforts in the
publishing of ERMs.
High Level Recommendations
Develop a long-term Book Sector Development Plan: The Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport, education sector donors, and book sector stakeholders (including printers, publishers, school-level actors, and civil society) should develop a long-term Book Sector Development Plan (BSDP) or similar sector planning document. The plan may be developed within the existing donor coordination group through the establishment of a Joint Book Development Working Group (JBDWG) or a related coordination structure that builds on existingnmechanisms, and it should be well-known and understood by publishers and other book sector actors. The BSDP’s goal would be to engage the private sector in building a sustainable book supply over the next 20 years, to be ultimately funded by RGC, and to allow donors to develop exit strategies
The Book Sector Development Plan should include an analysis of the different models of public and private sector roles to address gaps in the primary book supply chain and the associated capacity-building needs for discussion and recommendations with the Education Sector Donor Group, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, and other book sector stakeholders. An extensive review of the responsibilities of each organization involved in the textbook publishing process should be carried out to create a sector that is open, efficient, and transparent, as well as one that stimulates competition and growth—including ministerial responsibilities in curriculum development and textbook authorship.
Coordinate support to stakeholders: The donor community, through the Joint Book Development Working Group should coordinate the resulting capacity-building requirements of stakeholders indicated by the Book Sector Development Plan, including those referenced in this report.
Cover photo by USEmbassyPhnomPenh is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0.