Heather Allison

Spring 2010

Cambodia

Quick Facts•Population: 14,562,00•Capital: Phnom Penh•Size: 69, 898 sq. miles•Language: Khmer •Religion: 90% Theravada Buddhism, Muslim, Christianity•Ethnic Groups: 96% Ethnic Khmer, Chan-Malays, Vietnamese, Chinese

GDP: $11,250 Billion $823 per CapitaCurrency: Riel $1 U.S. = 4,139.51 RielsPopulation below Poverty ($1 a day): 1/3

90.5% rural areas7.2% urban areas2.3% Phnom Penh

Population Make-up: 80% live in rural areasExports: Rice, fish, timber, garments & rubber

Tourist industryPolitical Make-up: Constitutional Monarchy

Prime Minister and Parliament

Quick Facts

Child Mortality Rates are the highest in the region90 children out of 1,000 die under the age of 568 out of 1,000 die as infants

Life Expectancy: 61 years of ageHIV rate 15-49: 1.6%

Quick Facts

Angkor / Pre-French

Education done in watsEducation used to bring about loyalty and

serve as a foundation for survival

History

1863 – French TreatyLittle done with educationEstablishment of some Khmer-Franco schoolsModernized temple schools

1942 – Japan and World War IIDifferent push for education

1945 – Declared independence from France

History

1952 – Education Boom by Prince Sihanouk“Cambodianization”

More facilitiesPush French educational systemPush secondary educationTertiary level expanded

Problems with “Cambodianization”Moved too far from traditionsNot economically affordableSystem did not meet the needs of the countryFrench education was opening the minds

1953 – Declared complete independence from France1970 – Deposed of Prince Sihanouk

History

March 1970 – Lon Nol electedKhmerization

Change back to KhmerCreate skilled and qualified workforceBalance among education levels

Civil WarHalf of the country under guerrilla Communist

controlEducation was just not happening.

History

April 17, 1975 – Democratic Kampuchea / Khmer Rough march into Phnom PenhNew Constitution

Everyone equal / Everyone works

Pol Pot’s Educational ThoughtsKnowledge of letters and numbers are needed

for technologyYou have to practice with the technologyLearning could only occur by cultivating

political consciousnessOfficial contempt for education

History

March 1979 – Vietnam InvasionSchools started openingNew system based on Vietnam’s system

Socialism

1989 – Constitution amendedGo back to Cambodian traditions and away

from Communist idealsSeptember 1989 – Complete withdrawal of

Vietnamese troops

History

1993 – Elections heldPrime Minister electedPrince Sihanouk asked to be king again

Government led policies in placeRestoration of buildingsTextbooksTeacher trainingImprovements on exams

1996 – National Curriculum put into placeMinistry of Education, Youth, and Sports

established

History

Literacy Rate: 76% of 15 and olderPrimary School Enrollment: 89%Pupil Teacher Ration: 51Students who go from primary to secondary: 79%1.6 Million children do not attend school full timePercentage of students who do not have access

to secondary education: 89SafetyTransportationGirls needed at homeCannot afford the education

Education

Pre-School – not compulsory3 years10.6% enrolled

Primary Education – compulsory for ages 6 – 1190% enrolled but some areas only 40%

Secondary EducationLower Secondary – compulsory for ages 12 –

1422.9% enrolled

Upper Secondary – not compulsory3 years11.6% enrolled

Education

National CurriculumSchools, local communities, community groups,

NGOs and private education providers are expected to develop programs to enrich the curriculum.

Education for All National Plan 2003-2015Equitable access to basic educationHigh Quality upper secondary provisionsPro-poor financing policyEfficient management of resourcesAccountability through development standards

Education Curriculum

Khmer language and literatureMathScience (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and

Earth and Environmental Studies)Social Studies (History, Geography, Home

economics, Art Education, Morals and Civics)Foreign LanguageHealth, PE, and SportLocal Life Skills Program

Curriculum - Grades 1 - 10

CompulsoryKhmerPE/Health/SportForeign

LanguageEnglishFrench

MathBasicAdvanced

Curriculum – Grades 11 and 12

Curriculum – Grades 11 and 12Electives

Sciences Physics Chemistry Biology Earth and

Environmental Studies

Social Studies Moral/Civics History Geography Economics

EVEP (Elective Vocational Education Program)

ICT/Technology Accounting/Business

management Local Vocational

Technology Subjects Tourism Art Education

Students who choose basic Math have 4 electives

Students who choose advanced Math have 3 electives

Study same subjects both years

Is acknowledged in National CurriculumLimited number of special education schools

ran by charitable organizationsLittle to no support for students and teachers

in the mainstream

Special Education

16% of GDP12.4% of Government budgetAlmost have more money donated than given

by governmentSpending not equitable among levels,

programs, or areasParents donating have some control

Funding

Teacher training colleges train primary and secondary2 year program

12 total years of education

Teach upper secondary1 year post graduate program at the Faculty of

PedagogyTraining focuses on academic upgrading not

methodology or in-school teaching practices

Teacher Programs

Tertiary level – 2-3 yearsBachelor’s – 4 yearsMedicine and Dentistry – 7 years9 public higher ed institutions15 offer technical and professional trainingCompetitiveSchools give own test There are no set curriculums or financial

management regulations

Higher Education

Teachers Instructed by National Curriculum to be more student

centered but lack the skills Lack teaching material No support Large class size Double shift classes Student – Teacher contact is low High absentee from teachers Teachers are not qualified Salaries are low Poor working conditions Socioeconomic and professional status is low Few incentives Corruption in charging students

Educational Issues

GenderWomen are considered lower statusWomen’s role is household managerGirls carry out more income generating activitiesSocial ideals that males have more intelligenceLack employment opportunitiesSafety concerns

Physical NeedsShortage of school buildingsShortage of core teaching materials Instructional hours needed inadequateCurriculum not implementedNo desks, chalkboards, walls, roofs, toilets

Educational Issues

What can we learn from Cambodia’s history relating to education?

What will it take for Cambodia’s educational system to really be effective or is it even possible?

Can we use anything from Cambodia’s current educational mindset?

Questions

Ayres, D.M. (2000). Anatomy of a Crisis. University of Hawaii Press: Honolulu.

Cambodia Cultural Profile http://www.culturalprofiles.net/Cambodia/Directories/Cambodia_Cultural_Profile/-28.html

Cambodia’s Leading Independent Development Policy Research Institute. www.cdri.org.kh/webdata/download/wp/wp10e.pdf

Chandler, D. (2008). A History of Cambodia. Westview: Philadelphia.UNESCO Institute for Statistics

http://stats.uis.unesco.org/unesco/TableViewer/document.aspx?ReportId=124&IF_Language=eng&BR_Country=4060&BR_Region=40515

 UNESCO International Bureau of Education. http://www.ibe.unesco.org/Countries/WDE/2006/ASIA_and_the_PACIFIC/Cambodia/Cambodia.pdf

 Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. http://www.moeys.gov.kh/ UNICEF. http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/cambodia_2190.html

References