Cambodia in figures

Population
2010 (thousands)

14 138

Population
< 18 y.o (%)

40%

Youth literacy rate
(15-24 y-o) (%), 2005-2010, Male

89%

Youth literacy rate
(15-24 y-o) (%), 2005-2010, Female

86%

Secondary school participation
Net attendance ratio (%), 2005-2010, Male

29%

Secondary school participation
Net attendance ratio (%), 2005-2010, Female

26%

% of population below international poverty
1.25 $ per day, 2000-2009

29%

source unicef

Passerelles numériques Cambodia

Program launching

2005

Students - 1st batch 2005/2006

25

Students - 2012/2013

250

Localization

Phnom Penh

Training Programs

Two 2-year trainings – IT technician:

  • System and Network Administration (SNA).
  • Web Programming (WEP)

Both curricula include:

  • 2-month internship by the end of the 1st year
  • 4-month internship by the end ot the 2nd year

A 6-month training – Data Management Operator (DMO)

In collaboration with Digital Divide Data (a US-based social business in the digitization sector. They provide work-study opportunities for underpriviledged Cambodians and Laotians)

Context and results

In Cambodia, a society still traumatized by 30 years of civil war and the Khmer Rouge tragedy, 29% of the population still live with less than $1.25 per day. 80% of Cambodian people live in rural areas; however the urbanization is increasing. More than half of the population is under 21 year old: they are moving to the cities to seek jobs. School and university infrastructures are still inadequate and out of the 300,000 children born each year only 20,000 of them reach a university level of study.


Despite Cambodia’s Ministry of Education’s efforts towards primary schools, many institutes lack equipment, textbooks, laboratories and buildings. While officially free, education – especially secondary and higher education – is not accessible to the most underprivileged families.
In 2005, Passerelles numériques created its first school in Phnom Penh to help disadvantaged students access a high-level education and find qualified employment.

In the current Cambodia market context of fast evolution of IT and new technologies, local and international companies look for students with:
  • technical IT skills,
  • fluency in English,
  • professional skills and ability to deal with customers’ requests.

Passerelles numériques Cambodia’s training program has been designed to provide its students with all these skills. The program is constantly updated to answer the growing needs of the market.
After graduating, students can still count on Passerelles numériques support, thanks to the Job Placement service (all students find a job within 3 months after graduating).

Since 2005, 607 students have graduated from PN’s Cambodia center:

358 completed a 2-year training program (IT technician):

  • 97% of graduates found skilled employment within 2 months,
  • their average starting salary is $167 per month, which is 3.7 times the average Cambodian salary. Within 2 years they earn an average salary of $300 per month,
  • they give a part of their salary to their family, enabling younger brothers and sisters to go to school and study,
  • once graduated in just over 2 years these youths earn the equivalent of the sum invested in their studies at PN.

249 students completed the 6-month Data Management Operator training program enabling them to be hired into Digital Divide Data’s work and study program.

Testimonial

Mr. Sor Sovannarith, Graduated in November 2011

(Training in “System and Network Administration”).

“Being a student in this school allowed me to escape from poverty and ignorance. Today, I have more hopes for my future and every day i repeat myself ‘Yes, i can do it!’ After the internship at PN Cambodia helped me to find, i found a good job in a bank. With my salary I can support my sister’s studies and my family. One day, when I will be older, I would like to share my technical knowledgewith young underpriviledged people and help them to have a better future. That is what happened to me.”