By Lauren Crothers
PHNOM PENH
America's First Lady has wrapped up a three-day visit to Cambodia with a parting message that an INVESTMENT
in the education of younger generations helps to empower and overcome inequality.
Michelle Obama's visit was part of a wider mission in Asia to highlight her “Let Girls Learn" initiative, which aims to prevent dropout rates and encourage girls to get a proper education.
Before arriving in the Cambodian city of Siem Reap late Friday, Obama had been promoting the same initiative in Japan.
Cambodia is one of 11 countries where Peace Corps volunteers will implement the project. In a speech given to those volunteers in Siem Reap on Saturday, Obama stressed the importance of governments being held to account, according to a report in the Phnom Penh Post on Monday.
“The foundation for those values… is education. When [girls] learn to read and write and think and to speak up and to talk about injustice and demand equal treatment, it helps them participate in the political life of their country,” the Post quoted Obama as saying.
Earlier on Saturday, Obama met with a group of young female students to hear their perspectives on going to school.
She wrote on her blog that the students were” absolutely amazing — so passionate about their education and so determined to pursue their dreams.”
Cambodia National Rescue Party lawmaker Mu Sochua, a leading proponent of women’s rights in Cambodia, told The Anadolu Agency by telephone on Monday that the visit had been “timely and very significant,” because of the negative impact girls are experiencing when they do not have a complete education
He added that a lack of education also affects girls and women who are forcibly evicted from their homes or come from more marginalized, indigenous communities.
“Her message was very focused on girls getting rights and using them for their future, not just for their personal life, but also for the country and nation,” Sochua said.
“She was speaking about encouraging the girls to get into politics and using words like ‘freedom’ and ‘rights’.”
Sochua said that between the age of primary school enrolment and final exams, about 80 percent of girls drop out of high schools in Cambodia.
To offset this, she said there needs to be a “nationwide campaign on the value of school and for those parents in remote areas where girls still get out of school because of gender roles” to be reminded of the importance of education.
Many girls in Cambodia leave school early to help their parents or go to work.
Sochua said Education Minister Hang Chuon Naron has some excellent reform proposals, but only 12 percent of the national budget with which to work.
“At least 20 percent of the national budget has to go to education and to specifically look at barriers of girls going to school. It needs to address access, logistics, especially getting schools closer to communities,” she told AA.
“We’re behind the new minister and his reforms, but 12 percent makes it unlikely he can fulfill his dreams.”
Chuon Naron did not return a request for comment on Monday.
Obama toured the historic temple complex of Angkor Wat and its surrounds before departing Sunday.
