The intention is to provide a summary of facts and figures to supplement the knowledge of the project gained by the regular field visits and on-line diaries, rather than provide a detailed explanation. Therefore, this report contain mainly tables and maps, with minimal description and interpretation added. the report was authored by Save the Children (Norway).

map copyright Save the Children (Norway)

1. Overview:

The project "Basic Education in Reconciliation Areas in Siem Reap and Udor Meanchey Provinces" was implemented by the Provincial Education Office (PEO) in Siem Reap. The project is co-funded by SCN-CO and the Yates family. The project covers four districts: Angkor Chum and Varin in Siem Reap; Anlong Veng and Trapang Prasat in Udor Meanchey.  The responsibility for implementation in all 4 districts is under the PEO of Siem Reap.

After the reintegration of Khmer Rouge in 1998 and the repatriation of refugees from Thailand-Cambodia border camps, the reconciliation areas have been deprived of all things in relation to community development – especially basic education. Basic Education was the most urgent need for people and children in this situation.

The project aims at building capacity and develop human resources of the project management team to design and implement project activities. The educational objectives were to increase the children's promotion rate from 50 to 85%, to assist schools to have school development and school action plans, to do so that children learn in better environment such as having classrooms, furniture and clean environment. To be able to achieve and reach these objectives, the following activities has been implemented:

• School management and administration training, practice and provision of materials.
• Learning and teaching pedagogy for Child Friendly Learning Environment (CFLE) - training for teachers, school administrators and school supervision activities which includes workshop training, on-the-job training and provision of teaching materials and aids.
• Library and resource centre construction, training librarians, provision of furniture, books and material.
• Construction of school buildings (and providing school furniture), playgrounds, wells and toilets for a better school environment.
• Improving school-home relationships through capacity building, campaigns and lobbying, and sharing of materials, plans and reports.

The report pays particular attention to the statistics for girls, as they historically have received even less education than boys.

map copyright Save the Children (Norway)

2. Schools built:

Table 2: School buildings constructed by yates family & number of students at end 2002:

map copyright Save the Children (Norway)

1. Playground: Number of schools with playground.
2. Well, latrine: Number schools with well and/or latrine.
3. This building was constructed in early 2003.

map copyright Save the Children (Norway)

Note: Population census before 1999 is not reliable because of the war.

Education statistics: Rates of enrolment, promotion and drop-out from 1998 (baseline):

Table 6: Basic education in student numbers & % of school age population (enrolment rate):

Notes:

1) Rates for the school year 1998-1999 are estimates based on insufficient population statistics. For the other school years, rates are calculated on the basis of the numbers presented in table 5 above.  Enrolment rate Grade 1-6 in 1999-2000 has been calculated from school age population 1999, and so forth.

2) Girls' enrolment is about the same as that of boys: The participation of girls varies between 45% and 54% across years and districts. In 2003 49% (Varin) to 51% (Anlong Veng) of the students were girls.

Note: Girls' promotion is about the same as that of boys: Between 49% and 52% of the students promoted have been girls (all years and districts).

Note: Girls' drop-out has been slightly higher than that of boys, but it has improved and leveled out. 53% of the drop-outs were girls in 1998-99, against 50% in 2001-2002.

map copyright Save the Children (Norway)

Table 9: Number and recruitment of teachers for each school:

Progress of teacher proficiencies

All training workshops for teachers have been conducted as planned. The main strategy has focused on sustainability of on-the-job training by using local resources. Training needs were specified according to the results of systematic pre- and post- testing of the trainees. Results from the post-testing have been systematized to document teacher proficiencies. This information is used for monitoring, evaluation, designing of follow-up workshops on-the-job training and supervision.

Teacher proficiencies at the end of the period according to last test:

• 280 teachers (27%) scored satisfactorily in the understanding of theory and in daily practice of CFLE.

• 539 teachers (52%) were close to score satisfactorily and can improve themselves with support from regular supervision.

• 219 teachers (21%) score poorly, and will need continued support from all kinds of training. Please note that this group consists of many "voluntary teachers" without any formal teacher training.

The project has exceeded the initial expectations in enrolment (from 39% to 89%), promotion to higher grades (53% to 83%) and drop out rates (13% to 6%), and has delivered roughly equal results for boys and girls. Of course, progress still needs to be made. Whilst not reported numerically, the results could not have been achieved without the parent's enthusiasm for children's education, and their involvement in the school's activities. This is recorded, though, in the various diaries and photo albums on this website (see below).

The project has also established a baseline for Child Friendly Learning Environments, for broader application across the Country. As importantly, it has demonstrated that a partnership between a professional global NGO (Save the Children),  the local Provincial Education Office and private individuals can achieve first class results which deliver sustainable benefits. 

This learning has already been put to good use in the program financed by the Japanese Social Development Fund (JSDF) across the Siem Reap Province, with a wonderful $1.6MM grant, signed in 2001/2002.  And, the JSDF are also now committing a second grant of $1.8MM from 2003 for the Preah Vihear Province. This follow-up grant is a very unusual step for the JSDF, and it reflects a positive report from the World Bank (who administer the JSDF funds) on the success of the earlier Siem Reap program.

We want to pay sincere tribute to the fantastic efforts of all the staff members of Save the Children (Norway) and the Provincial Education Office of Siem Reap. You have achieved so much

The Cambodian tragedy - why Anlong Veng?
The Anlong Veng project - what is it?
Anlong Veng diary  - March 2000
Siem Reap diary - June 2000
Phnom Penh diary - November 2000
Trapang Prasat diary - June 2001
Angkor Chum diary - June 2001
Phnom Penh & Tuol Sleng - March 2002

Trapang Prasat diary - April 2002
Angkor Chum diary - April 2002
Cambodia Diary - March 2003
3 Year Project Report - May 2003
Anlong Veng, Preah Vihear & Kulen District - February 2004
Anlong Veng, Trapang Prasat & Preah Vihear - March 2009

Mary Sarath's Journal - Anlong Veng to Preah Vihear - March 2009

Matt Warren's Times Educational Article - January 2002
Gaye Miller's story - a container from Melbourne 1 - September 2003
Gaye Miller's story - a container from Melbourne 2 - October 2003
Anne-Lise Aakervik's project - children taking photographs - February 2004
Gaye Miller's story continued 1 - April/May 2005
Gaye Miller's story continued 2 - April/May 2005

Slide Presentation to King Edward's School, Bath - November 2002

Books on Cambodia
'net links Cambodia

Angkor photos - March 2000
Anlong Veng photos - March 2000
Trapang Prasat photos - March 2000
Trapang Prasat photos - November 2000
Angkor photos - June 2001
Trapang Prasat photos - June 2001
Angkor Chum photos - June 2001

Phnom Penh photos - March 2002
Tuol Sleng (S-21) photos - March 2002
Trapang Prasat photos - April 2002
Angkor Chum photos - April 2002

Anlong Veng & Trapang Prasat photos - March 3 2003
Angkor Chum & Varin photos - March 4 2003
Svay Leu photos - March 5 2003

Siem Reap / Artisans d'Angkor - February 20 2004
Anlong Veng & Trapang Prasat - February 21 2004
Dangrek Mountains & Preah Vihear Temple - February 22 2004
Kulen District & Koh Ker Temple - February 23 2004

Anlong Veng, Trapang Prasat & Preah Vihear - March 2009

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