"Know more about MDGs" Vol. 2
Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education
Children's Center and Scholarship program in Taom Village, Cambodia
By Ms. Aiko HAYASHI (Tomigaoka Church, Kyoto Diocese)
Many children cannot go to primary school in the world, which we do not come across in Japan. The reasons vary such as that there is no school nearby, they have to work and parents do not have enough money. I will write about MDGs Goal 2 "Achieve universal primary education" practiced in Taom Village where I am working.
The education system in Cambodia is six years for primary school and three years each for secondary and high school. The fee is free. There is an examination for promotion at the end of each year and only those who pass the exam are promoted. They have to pay for the exam and it is difficult to pass without taking the supplementary class which they have also to pay.
Holdover is common because they cannot catch up the class or cannot pay for the exam and supplementary class or cannot pass the examination for promotion.
In many cases a brother and a sister take same year because it is safer for girls to go to school with their brothers. According to UNESCO Statistical Institute, the literacy rate of Cambodian from fifteen to twenty-four years old is 87.5% (in 2008) and it is getting higher. But compare to 89.4% for male, 85.5% female is low. In Cambodia there is no such custom that children enter to school at six years old which is practiced in Japan. There are various ages of children in each school year due to parents' financial problems or holdovers.
"Know more about MDGs" Vol. 2
Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education
Mariano Schoo in Kompong Luong Floating Village, Cambodia
By Mr. Masaya Takahashi (Yonezawa Church, Niigata Diocese)
Tonle Sap Lake situated at the center of Cambodia is one of the biggest lakes in South East Asia. Kampong Luong There is Floating Village on the lake and the village people live in the boats. About seventy percent of the residents are the immigrants from Vietnam. As most of the children cannot speak Khmer (Cambodian Language), they cannot enter the primary school.
They help their parents' fishing since young in the closed Vietnamese community and do not have contact with Cambodian society.
Under the situation we, JLMM missionaries, help Mariano School run by a local Catholic church. Written Khmer is taught to Vietnamese children there and we work on to let those who have completed Mariano School enter Cambodian public primary school. We draw the children's potential so that they can be given more choices for their future and mix with Cambodian society.
I am often asked, "What does Cambodia need the most?" I answer, "Education is the most important." This is my true feeling through my five years' stay here.
Two million people died during Pol Pot era (1975-1978) in Cambodia. In the country of ultra communism intelligentsias, engineers and cultural figures were the targets of the purge and many of them were executed. It became a big barrier for Cambodia to rebuild the country after the civil war. Leaders on every area disappeared. Junior cannot be cultivated without leaders. Human resource is tremendously lacking to rebuild Cambodia. Then, what is the current situation like?
Cambodia is being rebuilt with the support from Japan and other countries. Economy develops remarkably and the recent real economic growth rate is 10% each year. I can feel it when I go to Phnom Penh. There are more luxury cars than before and high-rise buildings are under construction everywhere. As I am "a countryman", I am excited saying, "Wow! Oh, KFC was opened there!" But when I am in the village the life still remains as I started five years ago. Why is that so? Only cities are being developed.
"Know more about MDGs" Vol. 2
Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education
Children's House in Steung Meanchey, Cambodia
By Miyuki Asano (Kikuna Church, Yokohama Diocese)
Children's potential will be raised by the surrounding environment and the education. When we think about the education for the better future, there are a lot of problems and challenges before the children in Russey Village. The attendance rate at primary school in Cambodia is considered high, but many children drop out of school half way. The reasons are varied such as parents' financial problem and lack of understanding about education and problems in Cambodian educational system.
Many children in Steung Meanchey do not have an access to the educational institution due to the poverty of their families. As the children want to help their parents, they do not go to school but work at the refuge dump to contribute to their families' income. Families must have cash income to get their children to receive the education but some of them waste money on alcohol and gambling.
The parents of the children in Children's House were farmers in the country. They came to cities as they could not earn enough money to support their families. They did not have opportunities to receive the education due to the long-lasting civil war and they are now busy making their living. To them their children are the important labor power and the children have to help the house work and look after their younger brothers and sisters. Some of the parents understand the importance of their children's education but they have no choice but to depend on their children's labor. In their houses there are no toy, picture book and other educational material for their children.
