GST221 Education in Cambodia by Merle Curran-Ackert https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6 Abbie Briskin, Merle Curran-Ackert, Akanksha Gupta, Jacob Hill, Stephanie Shosanya en-us 2021-03-09 20:07:10 UTC 2025-10-01 15:34:44 UTC hello@padlet.com Ongoing Attempts: NGOs merlecurranackert https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1298003062 KAPE: Largest local NGO in education sector in Cambodia
  • Partnered with Cambodia's Ministry of Education, as well as other international and local organizations
  • Direct beneficiaries of KAPE include more than 71,000 children and 1650 teachers and school directors at 165 schools across 13 provinces
Cambodian Children's Fund: Focused in Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s Stung Meanchey district
  • Provided education for more than 3000 children
  • Approximately 70% went on to attend college
Pour un Sourire d’Enfant (PSE): Provides resources such as food and healthcare to vulnerable children in Cambodia
  • Enrolls children in state or corrective schools depending on their needs
  • Improves education in Cambodia for 6000 children annually
]]> 2021-03-11 13:55:42 UTC https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1298003062 Background stephsho7 https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1307053396 HDI
According to the United Nations Development program,  Cambodia's HDI value for 2019 is .594.  The UNDP also reported that in 2019 the expected years of schooling was 11.5. and the mean years of schooling was 5.0. ]]> 2021-03-14 12:09:28 UTC https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1307053396 Background stephsho7 https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1307066370 UNESCO: Out of all three levels of education, primary level has the highest population of attendance. However, the population in secondary level decreases. This decreases even more by tertiary level.]]> 2021-03-14 12:16:09 UTC https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1307066370 Background stephsho7 https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1307110718 Primary vs Secondary
71% of the Cambodian population completes primary school whereas only 18% of the population completes Upper secondary school. As soon as children in Cambodia reach secondary school, children are dropping out. 

Disparities
This disparity in enrollment/completion between primary and secondary level worsens even more when comparing urban versus rural areas.  43% percent of children that complete upper secondary school live in urban areas and only 12% live in rural areas. ]]> 2021-03-14 12:40:23 UTC https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1307110718 References merlecurranackert https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1307413199
  • www.kapekh.org/en/.
  • https://borgenproject.org/improving-education-in-cambodia/
  • https://unesco-wide-production.herokuapp.com/countries/cambodia#?dimension=all&group=all&year=latest
  • http://hdr.undp.org/sites/all/themes/hdr_theme/country-notes/KHM.pdf
  • http://uis.unesco.org/en/country/kh
  • http://schooldropoutprevention.com/country-data-activities/cambodia/#:~:text=Other%20factors%20(10%25%20of%20respondents,marriage%2C%20and%20lack%20of%20latrines.
  • https://www.bookbridge.org/post/the-education-system-in-cambodia#:~:text=Presently%2C%20after%20its%20reform%20in,(grade%207%20to%2012).
  • https://borgenproject.org/access-education-in-cambodia/
  • https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/moeys-continues-plan-further-success-education-youth-and-sport
  • https://www.oecd.org/pisa/pisa-for-development/PISA-D%20national%20report%20for%20Cambodia.pdf
  • http://www.ibe.unesco.org/fileadmin/user_upload/archive/Publications/free_publications/Tawil5e.pdf

    • ]]>     2021-03-14 15:10:52 UTC https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1307413199     merlecurranackert https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1307474281 2021-03-14 15:39:48 UTC https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1307474281 History of Education in Cambodia abriskin23 https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1307487101 Cambodia has had an education system since the 13th century; however, it traditionally took place in the Buddhist monasteries, the Wats, and was exclusive to the male population.

    The French introduced a "formal" Western education model when they colonized Cambodia (1863-1953). 

    The history of education was destroyed during the Red Khmer regime (1970s), and the next 2 decades were devoted to reconstructing education from "nothing". ]]>     2021-03-14 15:45:17 UTC https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1307487101     Impacts merlecurranackert https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1307490045 Direct:
    There are many negative consequences to the high upper secondary school dropout rate. Lack of sufficient education keeps families in the poverty cycle, as benefits of more education include higher income and lower unemployment. Education also has immense health benefits by contributing to longer lifespans through access to healthcare and sanitation.


    Indirect:
    Weak education systems indirectly impact the growth of the economy, as well as socioeconomic disparities. If children are without the proper training or resources to become active members in a society, participate in government, understand sociopolitical issues, and take care of themselves, this will crack the foundation of a country. Additionally, an increase in children who are socioeconomically disadvantaged in Cambodia and receiving a lower quality of education will only widen the gap between the upper and lower classes.]]>     2021-03-14 15:46:41 UTC https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1307490045     abriskin23 https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1307493225 2021-03-14 15:48:17 UTC https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1307493225 Current Education abriskin23 https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1307547634 The current education system in Cambodia is now 6+3+3: 6 years for primary education, 3 years for lower secondary education, and 3 for upper secondary education. 

    The education system is currently run by the Cambodian state, but private education exists for all levels and is run by private sectors, specifically by minority communities: Chinese, Muslim, French, Vietnamese, and English.]]>     2021-03-14 16:15:17 UTC https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1307547634     Ongoing Attempts: Government abriskin23 https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1307619957 Cambodia's Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports (MoEYS) is focusing on SDG 4, Quality Education, through 2 main policies:
    1. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
    2. Ensure effective leadership and management of education officials at all levels.

    Cambodia's development goals: to become an upper-middle income country by 2030, and to achieve high-income status by 2050.]]>     2021-03-14 16:50:49 UTC https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1307619957     Ongoing Attempts: Government abriskin23 https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1307687525 The 2014 Education Strategic Plan, focusing on equal access to education and increasing quality of school curriculum, has resulted in the following successes: 18% of national budget set for education, 98% of children enrolled in school with 48% women, and 1,000 schools built in the last decade.

    The government has also partnered with School Dropout Prevention for two priority intervention initiatives: 
    1. Early Warning System- to reduce student absenteeism and support at-risk students in school.
    2. Computer Labs- install low-cost computer labs powered by solar energy to provide computer literacy training to students and increase interest in schooling.]]>     2021-03-14 17:23:48 UTC https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1307687525     abriskin23 https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1307746046 2021-03-14 17:53:25 UTC https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1307746046 abriskin23 https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1307791887 2021-03-14 18:15:20 UTC https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1307791887 abriskin23 https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1307796344 2021-03-14 18:17:23 UTC https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1307796344 Table of Contents merlecurranackert https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1307927624 History of Education in Cambodia
    Abbie Briskin
    Current Education
    Abbie Briskin
    Background
    Stephanie Shosanya
    How/When Issue Evolved
    Jacob Hill
    Ongoing Attempts: Government
    Abbie Briskin
    Ongoing Attempts: NGOs
    Merle Curran-Ackert
    Impacts
    Abbie Briskin and Merle Curran-Ackert
    Development of Education Initiative
    Akanksha Gupta
    References]]>     2021-03-14 19:24:53 UTC https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1307927624     Ongoing Attempts: NGOs merlecurranackert https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1307961849 Check out KAPE's current projects!]]> 2021-03-14 19:42:45 UTC https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1307961849 Ongoing Attempts: NGOs merlecurranackert https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1307977636 Children photographed amidst mounds of garbage in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.]]> 2021-03-14 19:51:13 UTC https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1307977636 How/When Issue Evolved jrh2598 https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1312220222 Destroying of a foundation: As mentioned, Cambodia had a traditional education model heading into the 1960's. However, going into the 1970's a civil war began between the Khmer Rouge, an extreme socialist group formed in Vietnam and in the jungles of North East Cambodia, and Prime Minister Lon Nol. Khmer Rouge was able to conquer Phnom Penh and other major towns. Following these events the Khmer Rouge sought out to exterminate educated people all together with monks, religious leaders, those who spoke a foreign language, and even those who simply wore glasses. By the end of the Khmer Rouge regime, the education system was destroyed with little foundation left to rebuild. There were 2,481 primary schools with 13,619 teachers to teach 724,058 students. There was a very small fraction of high education teachers who survived the Khmer Rouge. The majority of teachers during the reboot had only received a few years of education prior to the Khmer Rouge period. ]]> 2021-03-15 18:20:21 UTC https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1312220222 How/When Issue Evolved jrh2598 https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1312379268 Post Khmer Rouge: After the Khmer Rouge there was little to work with as they had to implement short teacher training courses for students in order to make up for the lack of teachers as quickly as possible. There was also a shortage of buildings, teaching materials, books, and chalk after the war. There was a substantial pressure on the government to fund education and there have been reforms of the system such as the previously mentioned 6+3+3 system that have been part of the gradual rebuild. This is what explains the above HDI graph starting so low in the 1990's and slowly increasing over time since the rebuild. ]]> 2021-03-15 18:53:29 UTC https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1312379268 Development of Education Initiative merlecurranackert https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1315574628 - Cambodia needs urgent help to increase its rate of students enrolled in secondary education, with a special focus on children from rural areas. The reason children in rural areas drop out of school is because they mainly start working in the brick making industry to financially support their families.
    Methods of Funding
    - Funding for an education initiative can be collected by asking the citizens and the government of Cambodia for donations. A partnership with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport can also be formed, in order to receive some portion of the budget set aside for education in the country. 
    - The Asia Foundation is a non-profit international organization that has made donations to NGOs such as KAPE. 
    - Spencer foundation is an organization headquartered in Illinois, USA. They make donations for research in education and have made donations to NGOs in Cambodia. 
    - Cambodia is a member of the United Nations and is committed to achieving the SDGs set forth by it. It can receive funding from the United Nations Development Program. 
    - UNESCO has also been known to partner with some NGOs in Cambodia for their education initiatives and is a good option to receive funds.]]>     2021-03-16 13:34:01 UTC https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1315574628     Development of Education Initiative akankshagupta917 https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1320260108 Agendas of the Education Initiative
    - The education initiative can place special focus on increasing enrollment in secondary education in rural areas.
    - This can be done through constructing new school buildings in rural areas, so children don't have to travel too far to get an education.
    - The school buildings can have low-cost technology, in order to provide a better quality education. Children need to learn how to use a computer and its features properly in order to effectively compete in the world.
    - Since the Khmer Rouge, Cambodia has always had a shortage of teachers. Training programs for teachers can be conducted, which provide them with better tips and methods to make a healthy and a safe environment in order to boost learning.  
    - Parents can be involved in the school curriculum, through increased parent-teacher meetings, so they understand the importance education and encourage their children to continue their education.
    - Schools can have better infrastructure and provide free meals to children during class breaks to further reduce the cost of education for families. 
    - Career counseling and management can be implemented, so the students can understand the opportunities that are available to them and the importance of education as a tool to realize their true potential.]]>     2021-03-17 12:33:01 UTC https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1320260108     Development of Education Initiative akankshagupta917 https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1320428117 Possible Resistance to the Education Initiatives
    - Child labor is still rife in Cambodia. Families in rural areas might oppose to education because they need their children to work instead of studying. Education costs a lot and working would bring money into the house. 
    - This can be combatted through parent-teacher meetings at schools that start when the child is in primary education. If the parents realize the importance of education, the skills it develops in their children and the financial benefits of it in the future, parents might go out of their way to ensure their children continue into secondary education. 
    - The education initiative can also provide the children with free textbooks and other school materials, to further reduce the cost of education. ]]>     2021-03-17 13:07:20 UTC https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1320428117     merlecurranackert https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1320780683 2021-03-17 14:10:32 UTC https://padlet.com/merlecurranackert/GST221Group6/wish/1320780683