What is the initiative and where is it implemented (city or country, for example)?
Factory Literacy Programme is a part of The Educational and Social Development of Garment Factory Workers programme, enhancing literacy and numeracy skills among working-class women in Cambodia. The programme was divided into two phases; the first lasted from 2015 to 2018 and was followed by the second phase, which is still ongoing (2008-2021).
The National Literacy Campaign of 2015 preceded the collaboration of Cambodia’s Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) with the Phnom Penh UNESCO Office, which initiated the Factory Literacy Programme. As revealed in the 2013 report by the Ministry of Planning on Women and Migration in Cambodia, 14 per cent of women who worked in the garment manufacturing industry were illiterate, and 30 per cent had low literacy skills.
The initiative empowers young female factory workers with basic literacy and numeracy skills and increases awareness of their rights. The initiative also promotes public-private partnerships. Garment factories use training and storage rooms to install Library Resource Centres that are used to conduct literacy classes for workers, discuss social issues and provide learning materials. Library Resource Centres function as spaces for workshops and training and provide opportunities for independent learning, eventually resulting in improved working conditions.
How was the initiative established? How was it implemented?
The literacy classes were carried out in three sessions. Each session lasted for five or six months, with eight literacy classes implemented in six factories during the first session. The second session saw 7 classes implemented in 7 factories, whereas 19 factories engaged in literacy classes in the third session. The classes were conducted in Library Research Centres installed in the factories.
It is noteworthy that literacy classes are held by specially trained factory employees. Two employees are selected from each factory and receive training to become facilitators of the learning process. To qualify, the employees must have completed at least secondary education.
The classes are 50 minutes long, with facilitators using a combination of different approaches and methodologies. Although facilitators dedicate time to a top-down approach when explaining the material, the majority of the class time is intended for interactive learning, cooperative activities such as role-plays and learning aids such as the Literacy app, which allows the learners to practice newly acquired skills.
Which stakeholders are involved in the design and/or implementation of the initiative? Which sectors do they represent?
The Educational and Social Development of Garment Factory Workers programme is a multi-stakeholder initiative that involves representatives of both the private and public sectors. The Cambodian government is represented by Cambodia’s Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) and the Ministry of Planning on Women and Migration, along with other authorities. MoEYS partners with UNESCO and various non-governmental organizations, such as Sipar and Cambodian Women for Peace and Development. The initiative has received support from the French Development Agency (AFD), Weave Our Future Foundation and UNESCO, as well as subsequent funding from UNESCO’s Capacity Development for Education Programme (CapED) and Malala Fund for Girls’ Right to Education. The Garment Manufacturers Association (GMAC) in Cambodia is another active stakeholder of the initiative, providing space and resources for literacy classes. Volunteers who conduct the classes and the workers who participate in them are essential parts of the initiative.
What are the impacts of the initiative in terms of facilitating lifelong learning? Who does it benefit and how?
During the first session, six factories participated in the initiative. Out of 136 workers registered for literacy classes, 40 did not complete the course. The second session was completed by 101 learners out of 165 who initially registered. Currently, there are 588 workers registered for 28 classes, with 449 workers engaged actively in the learning process. A total of 12 factories have installed Library Research Centres and 11 factories have a reading corner.
The programme has had a certain impact on lifelong learning in Cambodia. Assessments have revealed that literacy levels of workers who took part in the initiative have increased. An overwhelming majority of the participants of the first session (83 per cent) expressed an interest in further literacy programmes to continue enhancing their skills. Improved literacy skills affected workers’ daily lives positively.
The programme has prospects for expansion; however, certain challenges must be considered, such as the need to improve the curricula and learning materials, as well as low worker motivation and high management dissatisfaction due to classes being conducted during working hours.
References
UIL. 2018. Educational and Social Development of Garment Factory Workers, Cambodia. [Online] Hamburg, UIL. Available at: https://uil.unesco.org/case-study/effective-practices-database-litbase-0/educational-and-social-development-garment-0 [Accessed 11 December 2021].