PURSAT – Inmates are being encouraged to take basic education and skill development programs to get proper jobs on release.
The Basic Education Equivalency Programme (BEEP) is being offered at seven correctional centers and prisons across the country. At Correctional Center 4 in Pursat province, five inmates have completed their studies, while 12 others are enrolled in the four to six-month program.
After a site visit in July, Hok Sothik, director of NGO Sipar Cambodia, said the program equips inmates with skills, particularly those with about two years left to serve, to help them secure jobs after release and reintegrate into normal life.
“When inmates are arrested and sent to prison, they lose their families and jobs. If they cannot secure employment after their release, they may commit crimes and be arrested again,” Sothik said.
“Their past experience is one thing but what truly matters is how they develop themselves. Such rehabilitation provides them with basic knowledge and skills so they can start businesses, whether small or large.”
Acknowledging that some inmates fear revealing their past to others, Sothik noted that many are hesitant to seek jobs.
To address this concern, Choum Chantha, program manager of the Prisons Program at the organization, said former inmates are encouraged to seek support from national employment and labor agencies, as well as provincial job centers that help local people access job opportunities.
Sothik added that contact details of consultants and agencies will be provided if they face hurdles in getting jobs.
Kouch Kou Lumor, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Education, expressed regret that most of the inmates in Correctional Center 4 are young, but he is confident that they can build up their skills and support their families after release.
“The government never leaves them behind. We hope they can find proper jobs without discrimination from their surroundings in the future,” Lumor said.
“When I had small talks with some of the inmates, I saw commitment in their eyes and I hope they can turn it into action through learning. Their certifications will make their parents and relatives proud despite their past mistakes.”
Leav Kimlay, senior education programme officer at UNESCO Cambodia, applauded inmates who achieved high exam scores in the program.
“Learning has no limit. As long as they have strong commitment, we will help them achieve their goals by first receiving basic education and skill development opportunities,” Kimlay said.
Although the program can be accessed through electronic devices, Kimlay explained that inmates are given personal accounts and access to educational resources via offline-content servers, ensuring security within prisons is not disrupted.
The program is available at Correctional Centers 1 and 2 in Phnom Penh, Correctional Center 4 in Pursat, and prisons in Kandal, Kampot, Koh Kong and Prey Veng provinces. Inmates are required to take seven courses: Khmer, basic math I, math II, chemistry, gender, physics and fundamental skills.
The project is a joint initiative between UNESCO, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, and the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training, facilitated by Sipar Cambodia.
It is also designed to support young people — particularly vulnerable groups, indigenous people and people with disabilities — who have dropped out of lower secondary school to earn certificates and continue their studies.
Launched in 2019, BEEP is part of the Decent Employment for Youth in Cambodia Phase II, a joint UN initiative supporting young Cambodians in securing decent and productive employment opportunities.
With financial support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, and contributions from the government and the country’s telecommunication service provider Smart Axiata, the program is now in its expansion phase.
