Education in Cambodia – the current situation
In Cambodia 30 years of war and cultural genocide over the four years of the Khmer Rouge regime have had a devastating effect on the country. In 1979 the education system had totally ceased to exist and has had to be reconstructed.
In the years since it has been a struggle to rebuild it. The lack of facilities, shortages of textbooks, poorly trained teachers and halftime school attendance have made it difficult to provide quality education for students.
In 2000 a government study in cooperation with UNDP and UNESCO revealed that 63% of adults were totally illiterate or had basic skills that were so poor that they were unable to read. This study also confirmed the close link between the person’s ability to read and write and his or her socio-economic level.
Today 85% of children attend primary school but the dropout rate remains very high and only 17% of them reach secondary school because of the poor quality of the education system.
(Source: Cambodian Ministry of Education)
WHY BOOKS?
Can you imagine going through school not having access to a good school library or a local library? No opportunity to read on your favourite subject? No books just to read for pleasure? No books to help with school assignments? That’s the experience of many school students in Cambodia. BOOKS FOR CAMBODIA wants to help change that.
YOU CAN HELP
We are seeking donations to purchase books for school libraries in Takeo province, a rural area just south of Phnom Penh. Books are very inexpensive in Cambodia which means your donation can buy many more books than it could in NZ. The average price of the books purchased recently was NZ$1.50 and that included a very thick Oxford Khmer—English dictionary.
WHO ARE WE?
BOOKS FOR CAMBODIA was initiated by Jennie Wilson, a former VSA volunteer and now one of the principals of Gecko Trails, a small group tour
company specialising in tours in Southeast Asia.
In November 2006 Gecko Trails led a VSA Addventure trip to Cambodia where the group helped build a reading shelter and set up the library at Kla Krohim High School (650+pupils). As a result of their efforts and donations the library was increased to 531 books. Another group has since undertaken a similar project in the neighbouring Moy Sophea Senior High School. Some of us now wish to continue the work by supporting BOOKS FOR CAMBODIA.
It’s not just a matter of buying books. Supporters of BOOKS FOR CAMBODIA have also contributed to equipping the libraries; funding training for the librarians and renovating the libraries which were basically storerooms for textbooks.
HOW IS MY DONATION SPENT?
Gecko Trails covers all administrative costs associated with Books for Cambodia both in New Zealand and on the ground in Cambodia. Therefore 100% of funds donated to Books for Cambodia is spent on purchasing books, training teachers and renovating libraries.
HOW CAN I MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
Please contact:
Books for Cambodia
c/- Helen Walch
170 Ringawhati Road
RD1
Otaki 5581, New Zealand
Phone: 06-364-6602
Email: info@booksforcambodia.org
BOOKS FOR CAMBODIA is in the process of becoming a Charitable Trust.