DuvalStoll701

Teaching in Cambodia - Cambodia has a proud educational history and Holiday In Cambodia Cambodia has a proud educational history. When you visit the temples of Angkor you'll note that many had libraries - and for hundreds of years the Kingdom thrived on what today might be called the knowledge economy. It was knowledge of irrigation that gave Cambodia an immense advantage, economically, over its neighbors. Likewise as a blend of distinct religions and cultures, Cambodia was a thriving melting pot of ideas. During the 20th century, mostly under French rule, the schooling system was particularly strong, and teachers were given an esteemed place in society - receiving by the early 1970s, something like 10 times the salary (inflation adjusted) that they are able to receive today. 20th century Cambodia produced a strong legacy of literature also.

All this ended under Pol Pot of course, and by the end of his genocidal years fewer than 100 academics survived, it is believed. Teachers were singled out for execution during the implementation of Pol Pot's miserable experiment in breaking down society's values of education, religion and family.

Today, Cambodia still bears the legacy of those years - and the schools of today are under-equipped, teachers underpaid, and attendance very low. UN figures suggest that while literacy has climbed in the last decade to around 70% (males more than females) the percentage of young people eligible to attend high school who actually do attend and complete Grade 12 is around 30%.

For young children there are strong forces that prevent them from attending school, let alone completing their education. the biggest of these forces is economic - with families needing (often desperately needing) their children to assist the family farm or business. many families simply cannot afford the compulsory school uniforms, or can afford one of two uniforms which are shared, in turn by one child after another. State teachers are paid very poorly, and many resort now to charging a nominal amount to students for additional or even basic tuition. They too are fighting to survive in today's hard economy where inflation sits around 20% per annum.

As for university, while attendance is now booming, less than 1.5% of Cambodians have completed a university degree. You can see how this spirals around: with most teachers in Cambodia trained only to a limited level.

It's into this environment, a burgeoning population (half of Cambodia is aged 20 or less) of young people is unable to receive the education they need to unlock their own future. Complete education is increasingly the domain only of the wealthiest 30%.

In recognition of this situation, many organizations - some local, some overseas-based - have been established to provide an improved education prospect to local children. These organizations invite overseas supporters and volunteers to assist with their programmers.