Cambodian schools see exam results soar

1 April 2008: Exam results in Cambodia have increased 19-fold thanks to a project to build new schools and scrap corporal punishment and traditional teaching methods implemented by Plan, the leading international children’s organisation.

Primary school exam pass rates in Dambae District have leapt from 5 to 97% in the past 2 years as a result of the programme which has given hundreds of extra children the chance to attend school and increased the likelihood that those who make it to the classroom stay there. Parents have been encouraged to send their children to school by campaign groups which travel directly to villages to promote education.

Plan has worked closely with local communities to build 8 primary schools and 2 libraries in the district. The new buildings are used by more than 2,000 children and in addition to education provide access to safe drinking water, latrines and play areas.

Focus on quality

But it is the improved focus on quality that has made the real difference. 40 teachers in the area were trained by Plan and local NGO, KAPE (Kampuchean Action for Primary Education), to improve teaching quality, motivation and morale. Traditional methods of classroom control such as corporal punishment and making children sit in rows have been replaced by a more child-friendly approach with children allowed to sit in groups and teachers trained to use non-violent discipline methods.

As a result, achievement has soared while drop-out rates have plummeted. Srei Heanh, the 14-year-old daughter of a cassava farmer, passed her primary school exam last year. She said: “My parents encourage me to study hard and I am lucky because I have generous and supportive teachers. I don’t like teachers who snarl at me and say bad words. And I have a comfortable place to sit and study at school.”

The new schools allow hundreds of children to get an education without having to walk up to 5 kilometres to attend school each day.

Samnang, 11-year-old boy, said: “I have 10 brothers and sisters but only my elder sister and I could go to school because before we didn’t have a school here. Plan built it. I want all children to come to school like me so that they can learn to read to.”

Vital work

Meas Lam, the Dambae primary school principal with more than 10 years’ teaching experience, said Plan’s work is vital in helping more students to pass their exams.

He said: “Now we have schools near and inside villages. Poor students are granted scholarships, so they can go to school. Some see others having a good future, becoming teachers after finishing grade 9 plus 2 year training, so they encourage their children to go to school.”

Plan’s school improvement programmes are built around a comprehensive solution to improving quality and providing a safe, quality learning environment. The programmes include: building schools, sanitation and latrine facilities, school and learning materials, smaller classrooms, training teachers, providing support to Parent and Teacher Associations as well as improved training to school management.

The Dambae school programme is the latest Plan initiative to improve the lives of children in Cambodia. Plan’s campaign for universal birth registration, hand in hand with the government, saw a staggering 11,000,000 children and adults registered within 3 years. Birth certificates are a vital step in improving children’s access to basic social services such as education and health.

Note to editors

Plan works with more than 3,500,000 families each year throughout Africa, Asia and Latin America. Plan is committed to working with local communities to strengthen children’s rights.

Contact the Plan press office: +44 7500 066891

Web: www.plan-international.org/news/journalists/