Sambath faced a significant challenge after graduating from elementary school when a medical condition left him paralysed. This new reality presented both physical and mental obstacles, leading him to pause his formal education.
Determined to continue learning, he sought opportunities that could accommodate his situation. He discovered the Basic Education Equivalency Programme (BEEP) and enrolled in the programme with support from BEEP facilitators.
As a joint programme of UNESCO, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) and the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MLVT), BEEP provides opportunities for youth who face difficulties completing their education to take on a non-formal education pathway and continue their learning until completing lower secondary school. The programme offers a blended approach allowing learners to complete the courses at a customised pace online with learning support from BEEP learning centres which learners could also visit in person. The BEEP curriculum is designed in alignment with the formal education curriculum with additional subjects on life and employment skills, and the diploma is approved and accredited by both the MoEYS and MLVT.
With a strong determination and commitment to education, Sambath completed BEEP in 2020. Continuing his pursuit of knowledge and his dream to become an IT expert, he further enrolled in a technical high school using the equivalency diploma awarded by BEEP. Although the school did not offer an Information Technology (IT) course, Sambath chose to study Electronics, knowing that coding was an integral part of the curriculum.
His resilience and hard work paid off – in November 2023, Sambath achieved the Technical and Vocational Certificate level 3 (C3), equivalent to a Grade 12 and high school diploma. His technical training bore fruit beyond academics: he designed an electronic wheelchair specifically for people with mobility challenges. Sambath continued to pursue higher IT programming training in Phnom Penh. In 2024, he secured a full-time position as an IT Programme Support Officer at a private university in Phnom Penh.
Sambath’s story is a testament of resilience, hope, and the pursuit of knowledge. He firmly believes that true value is found in what we know. His message to fellow young people who face difficult circumstances in life is to, “explore diverse skills, follow your passion, and be brave”.
As Sambath continues his journey, he advocates for expanding skills training programmes, and equal opportunities, legal support, and social protection for young people with disabilities. UNESCO firmly believes in and will continue to support this common vision.
About Basic Education Equivalency Programme (BEEP)
BEEP is part of the Decent Employment for Youth in Cambodia Phase III (DEY III) with financial support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and contributions from the government and telecommunication operator Smart Axiata. As the flagship collaborative initiative between the MoEYS and the MLVT, the programme is launched by the two ministries and UNESCO to address the issue of high dropout rates at the lower secondary level in Cambodia. Upon completion of the programme, learners receive a certificate equivalent to Grade 9 accredited by the two ministries. The programme is currently in its expansion phase to achieve nationwide rollout and reach new target groups of beneficiaries, including youth working for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs), youth in rehabilitation centres and correctional centres and returned migrants.
