ISSUES May 20, 2013/ISSUE 1/Price $1/4000RIEL Education

DisadvantgedLevelling Students Fight the for their Playing Education to Assure Field their Future EDITORIAL “EDUCATION IS THE ONLY WAY Education TO GET RID OF POVERTY” CAMBODIA Department of Media and Communication Royal University of Russian Blvd, Phnom Penh Tel: (855) 23 884 408 ducation has been playing a cru- Email : [email protected] cial role in developing as well as experts and professionals involved in the developed countries in helping to field If Cambodia wants to provide edu- Supervisor: Ellie Dyer Ereduce poverty and boost the economy. cation for all, there needs to be more re- Cambodia is trying to improve its educa- sources for and more attention paid to Design Supervisors: Colin Meyn, Cristine Schmutzler tion sector and provide education to its disadvantaged groups of students. population in order to alleviate poverty Cambodia’s education sector was de- Designer: Mech Dara and build up its economy. Although the veloped during the 1950s and the 1960s, country has made remarkable improve- the glorious and prosperous era of Prince Editors: Michelle Vachon, Stav Zotalis ments—high enrolment rate in primary Norodom Sihanouk’s regime. During that school and an increase in the number of short period, the country saw many so- Contributor: Ty Samphors Vicheka both public and private schools—there cioeconomic advances in education and still is a lot of work to be done to help many schools, universities and research Photos: Mech Dara disadvantaged students such as the poor, laboratories built. In addition, teachers children with disabilities, ethnic minori- were getting salaries that enabled them to Advertising & Sales Tel +855 (0)23 228 218 ties, girls and children who live in remote support their families. All this contribu- Email: [email protected] areas. ted to creating high-quality education. This month focuses on some of tho- However, the Khmer Rouge regime Printed with the kind support of Michelle se disadvantaged children in an attempt completely destroyed the formal educa- Vachon and Stav Zotalis to determine their access to education: tion system between the 1975 and 1979. Published May 20, 2013 children of families relocated to a remo- After the Pol Pot regime, the country star- te site, children with intellectual disabili- ted to rebuild its education system in the ties, and children who are deaf, blind or 1980s, with schooling opportunities pro- have low vision. This overview was com- gressively expanding. piled through series of interviews in the Compiling the magazine involved a field with parents and children, teachers, lot of challenges and difficulties. Some experts, government officials and staff of government officials and organizations relevant NGOs. were very helpful and provided support This describes the situation of some of that made these stories possible. At ti- those disadvantaged children and whether mes, there was no countrywide informa- they have access to education: children of tion or statistics available, which made it families moved to a remote relocation difficult to get an overview of a situation. site, children with intellectual disabilities, And some organizations were so eager and children who are deaf, blind or have to protect the children they care for that low vision. Compiled through series of they tended to distrust anyone wishing interviews in the field with parents and to know about them or their work, which children, teachers, experts, government complicated coverage. ON THE COVER officials and staff of relevant NGOs, the This magazine is a modest attempt to magazine also includes information on draw attention to children whose schoo- Art Vanny, a special education teacher of where parents may get information and ling is jeopardized by providing accurate Rabbit School in Phnom Penh, teach stu- help for their children. information in a balanced way meant to dents with intellectual disabilities. The stories in the magazine describe both inform and appeal to the reader. It children’s living and learning conditions, is hoped that it can play a small part and Below, illustrations are from the book highlighting the difficulties they face as it serve as a bridge between readers and stu- “Child Friendly School Policy” published is important to bring this to the attenti- dents, parents, teachers, government offi- by the Ministry of Education to train on of the public through comments from cials and NGOs in the education sector. ​ teachers.

2 3 PHOTO OF THE MONTH Education CAMBODIA Content

6 Stepping Up As Cambodia aims to reach education for all by 2015, engaging disadvantaged youth is one of its greatest challenges 8 Out of the Dark For the first time in Cambodia, teachers are reaching out to special-needs students and helping them fit into society 14 Young and Relocated The Impact of eviction on children’s education 19 Indigenous Groundbreakers Success educating indigenous children 20 Against All Odds Deaf students pursue education with determination 24 Cambodia Challenges to Run Pre-school The challenge for teachers to teach pre-school students 26 Staying Focused The everyday challenge of blind and low vision students 29 Interview Advantages of Non-Formal Education 30 Photos People with disabilities to live, learn and work with hope 32 Taking a Break Schools throughout Cambodia enjoy some well-deserved time off for Khmer New Year 33 Opinion Start with the teachers 34 English Monthly Vocabulary, tips, idioms, quizes, wishwords, and web scholar- Students on their way to success, ship Pong Toek High School, Phnom Penh 4 5 As Cambodia aims to reach education for all by 2015, engaging disadvantaged Stepping Up youth is one of its greatest challenges.

Mech Dara Left: Schoolchildren play during a break at Hun Neang Boeng Trabek Khangkoeut primary school. Center: A disabled boy who does not go to school sits outside of By Mech Dara his house in Kandal province. Right: Students take notes during class at a primary school in Kompong Speu province. ince the 1990s, Cambodia has step- and resources of every sort. principles of freedom of education and ped up its effort to improve its edu- According to the 2013 UN Develop- equal access to schooling, in order to offer 50 percent, the report says. Then between and youth have equal opportunity to ac- dents with disabilities have the right to en- cation sector and make education ment Program’s Human Development each citizen the equal opportunity for the grade six and grades seven to nine, fees cess quality education consistent with the rolment in public and private educational Savailable to all students. Report “The Rise of the South: Human betterment of his/her living condition.” jump 76 percent, which puts lower secon- Constitution and the Royal Government’s establishments. Laws were adopted and policies es- Progress in a Diverse World,” the Cambo- Moreover, Article 68 of the same chap- dary school beyond the reach of many pa- commitment to the UN Child Rights The Ministry of Education and NGOs tablished, spelling out the government’s dian government only spent 2.6 percent of ter specifies that “the State shall ensure for rents and children. Convention, regardless of social status, have worked together to develop and im- belief that every child in the country has its gross domestic product on education all citizens free primary and secondary This leads a large number of students to geography, ethnicity, religion, language, plement training programs for teachers a right to education whether he is rich or between 2005 and 2010. education at public schools and citizens drop out of school between grades six and gender and physical form.” so they can identify and educate children poor, has a physical or intellectual disa- Moreover in its 2013 budget, the Cam- shall receive schooling for at least nine nine, the report says. In addition, poverty This also applies to students with phy- with physical and intellectual disabilities. bility, is of Khmer origin or belongs to a bodian government set aside only 9 per- y e ar s .” forces many 12-to15 year-old students to sical and intellectual disabilities. In 2008, Those programs remain modest due to minority group, lives in a city or a remote cent of its budget for education: It alloca- However the Ministry of Education’s start working full time to help their fami- the Ministry of Education adopted the budget constraints and limited resour- area. As the government has stated many ted 1,119 billion riel, or $279.9 million, to lack of funding to pay teachers living wa- lies, the report adds. Policy on Education for Children with ces on the part of both the ministry and times, Cambodia aims to meet by 2015 education out of a total budget of 12,095 ges has rendered the concept of free edu- The situation is such that, according Disability aiming to “provide quality edu- NGOs. the “Education for All goals” that UN- billion riel, or $3.02 billion. cation a goal rather than a reality. In its to the World Bank, nearly half of the stu- cation, life skills or vocational training to Efforts are being made by the Cam- member countries adopted in 2000. And yet, the government’s intention is 2007 study “The Impact of Informal Scho- dents had dropped out of primary scho- children and youth with disabilities equi- bodian government and NGOs to make The Ministry of Education, Youth and clear and is even enshrined in Cambodia’s ol Fees on Family Expenditure,” the NGO ol in 2009-2010 because they needed to tably and effectively, increase enrollment, education accessible to students in di- Sports has been working with many or- 1993 Constitution. Education Partnership reported that edu- work. promotion and survival rates in the scho- sadvantaged situations. But, as shown in ganizations big and small to meet those Article 66 in Chapter VI states that “the cation costs for parents go up as children Still, in its Education Strategic Plan ols.” this magazine, Education for All has yet goals and provide education to all school- State shall establish a comprehensive and advance in school. 2009-2013, the Ministry of Education The 2009 Law on the Protection and to happen. age people in the country. However its ef- unified system of education throughout As a student goes from grade three to reiterated that its “immediate objective the Promotion of the Rights of Persons forts are hampered by the lack of budget the country, capable of guaranteeing the grades four through six, informal fees rise is to ensure that all Cambodian children with Disabilities reiterated that all stu-

6 7 FEATURE

OUT OF For the first time in Cambodia, teachers are reaching out to special needs students and helping them fit into society

THE8 DARK 9 sb, age, is taught the Braille alphabet by her teacher in xxxx

students line up to raise the Cambodia flag and recite the national anthem at the start of a school day last month at the Krousar Thmey School for the blind outside of phnom Penh

Mech Dara Mouy Ngim, left, is drawing during class at Rabbit School. By Mech Dara Kim Phalla Teacher Srey Kalyan, left, discusses with Tear Engsong, the father of Mouy Ngim sitting to his right, during a parent consultation session at Rabbit School.

ear Engsong is deeply concerned in Phnom Penh. “The Rabbit School takes School, she said. “When I see my son mol Samnang is autistic, being involved in mikumar said. about his daughter Mouy Ngim’s very good care of my daughter. They teach dressing properly and eating and washing her son’s education goes without saying. “I “And then about 30 to 40 per cent of the condition and future. “It’s someti- and train her how to behave. They teach himself… I feel so happy.” am very happy to work with the teachers cases are due to infection that has spread Tmes very difficult for me to communicate her to dress herself, to go to the toilet, take According to Kim Phalla, special edu- and apply what they tell me,” she said. Af- to the brain [of a child]…which can also with her because she does not unders- a shower by herself…to respect other peo- cation program manager for Rabbit Scho- ter only a few months at the school, her be prevented,” he said. But this requires tand what I’m trying to say and I don’t ple,” he said. “Teachers at the school know ol, there are about 160 students at the son is capable of communicating a little that parents can afford a medical staff able understand what she needs. So at times how to deal with children with intellectu- school. with her, which he could not do in the to identify and treat the infection in time. she gets angry and keeps crying. al disabilities and those children are very Maybe 60 percent of them are autistic past, she added. People may confuse some physical “I’m worried about her future…I don’t happy there.” while the others have various conditions Although about a third of intellectual conditions with intellectual disability, know how long we will have to take care Of course transport to and from the ranging from Down syndrome and ce- disability cases are due to a child’s genes for instance believing that a person with of her,” he said. His 13-year-old daugh- school is expensive for the family, and so rebral palsy to hydrocephalus—enlarge- and cannot be prevented at this point, epilepsy, which is a neurological disor- ter does not even want to play with other is the cost of hospital care and medici- ment of the head due to accumulation of most cases can be prevented, said Dr. Je- der that can cause loss of consciousness children in their neighborhood, afraid ne whenever she gets sick, Tear Engsong liquid in the brain. gannathan Bhoomikumar, program di- or seizures, has an intellectual disability. they will hurt her, he said. said. “It makes us get poorer and poorer,” One of the school’s goals is to integra- rector of the Center for Child an Adoles- Nearly half of the patients brought to Mouy Ngim has Down syndrome, a ge- he said. “It’s very hard for us to bring her te those children into society, Kim Phalla cent Mental Health (CCAMH) created in CCAMH for treatment have epilepsy, Dr. netic condition that causes delays in phy- up...We have to stay where we are and said. This is why the program includes job Takhmao City by the organization Caritas Bhoomikumar said. sical and intellectual development. With keep on looking after her. So we cannot training for students who are capable of with support of the Ministry of Health. Cambodians have a complex belief treatment and training, children like her travel long distance for work.” working, she said. “Poverty and intellectual disability go system and, depending on their education often grow up able to work at jobs in their For Kak Nika, finding the Rabbit Scho- But no matter how good Rabbit School together,” he said. “If you are poor and level and the region of the country from communities. ol was also a blessing. Her 10 year-old may be for the students, it cannot replace you live in a rural area, you are vulnerable which they come, may attribute intellec- Mech Dara In any country, having a child with an son Koun Rathana suffers from autism, a parents, said Srey Kalyan who teaches at to nutritional problem…and your brain is tual disability to non-physical causes, he intellectual disability would be difficult neurological disorder that affects the way Rabbit School. “We want to meet parents vulnerable to brain infection.” said. “Many of them consciously and un- “Poverty and intellectual disability for parents. But in Cambodia, it is even people interact with others. to make a plan [for their children] and “The main cause of intellectual disa- consciously might think that it is due to go together,” said Dr. Jegannathan harder since social and healthcare servi- “Before, I could not go to work becau- implement the plan…step by step. bility is nutrition…iron and iodine de- karma [behavior in past lives affecting the Bhoomikumar, program director of ces are so limited and there are hardly any se I had to look after him. But, since my “Parents need to understand their chil- ficiency during pregnancy can lead to present].” the Center for Child an Adolescent government organizations or NGOs whe- child has started going to the school, it has dren’s problems,” she said. “Teachers can- intellectual disabilities.” This is why he- Depending on the intellectual disa- Mental Health. re parents can get advice and support. reduced my burden. I have more free time not improve their condition that much althcare programs for pregnant women bility of a child, a family may have to Still, Tear Engsong had persevered and to work and earn a living,” she said. Koun without parents’ help.” in poor villages include distributing food support a child all his life. “It’s a big bur- eventually found a school for Mouy Ngim Rathana has learned so much at Rabbit For Um Rathana whose 5-year-old Sa- supplements such as iron salt, Dr. Bhoo- den for a family,” and especially for the

10 11 mother who may spend all her time ca- Affairs. “We have trained them for the public awareness and request government PROFILE ring for the child, Dr. Bhoomikumar said. market but the market does not provide support, “People with the intellectual di- “It is one of the reasons why the husband them opportunities to show their abiliti- sabilities cannot be their own voices be- leaves the wife and takes another wife....It es,” Seang Chamnap said. cause they cannot talk,” Dr. Bhoomiku- is a double tragedy for the wife who has a The biggest challenge for people inte- mar said. child with intellectual disability.” llectual disabilities is discrimination, he “They cannot form associations or “The government has to invest in chil- said. groups like blind or deaf people do: Only dren and pregnant women’s healthcare Employers may hesitate hiring them, parents and NGOs can be their voice,” he for the future,” Dr. Bhoomikumar said. concerned of their customers’ reaction, said. “If you have 100 people with intellectual and in some cases may pay them less for More information: disabilities, that’s a lot for the nation be- equal work. Rabbit School: 089283 285 cause they cannot produce.” Identifying a Unlike blind people or landmine vic- HAGAR: 098 210 242 child’s condition early may make it possi- tims who have formed groups to raise CCAMH: 023 300 534 ble to intervene so that a child can attend school, get training and eventually get a job and produce for society, he said. All parents interviewed said they wis- hed their children could attend public schools in their neighborhoods. “All children have the right to educati- on even if they are disabled,” said Nhean Saroeun who heads the Special Education Department at the Ministry of Education. “We still have limited human resources and material…to teach students with in- tellectual disability.” In spite of this, he said, “On behalf of the Ministry of Education, I would like to Mech Dara Teacher Art Vanny during class at Rabbit School. call on parents of children [with intellec- tual disabilities] nationwide to send them to study even if they have low, medium or serious disabilities. We are open for them.” At the present time, this is not always possible: Tear Engsong said that when he By Mech Dara A Very Special Job tried to enroll his daughter at the public school near his home, he was told that she Art Vanny came to teach children with tism—a neurological disorder that affects “When they can speak and count and they would not be able to study there. intellectual disabilities for very personal the way people interact with others—it can participate in the group…it inspires Still, Nhean Saroeun said, people with reasons. can be difficult to manage the class, she me to keep on teaching.” intellectual disabilities should not be kept Growing up, she had a cousin with said. “They do not stay very long in one Some parents don’t understand that isolated. “The ministry tries very hard to intellectual disability. And then her own place. They run up and down the classro- their children have serious intellectual work with partner NGOs to help them,” child was affected. om so it’s hard for me to teach them.” disabilities and expect them to get better he added. “I wanted to learn and understand And yet she does, teaching them to quickly, Art Vanny said. Others were not There are very few organizations to how to educate children with intellectual count, to paint, to identify plants and ani- aware that their children had a disability help people with intellectual disabilities. disabilities,” Art Vanny said. “I wanted to mals. The students also do some physical and, especially in the countryside, had a According to Seang Chamnap, project know how to help after having seen their exercises and even dance. They also learn hard time getting help when they started manager at the organization Hagar, the- difficulties at my own home.” to respect others and wait their turn in a to figure out their children needed specia- re are less than 10 organizations working Over the last four years, the 46-year- lineup, Art Vanny said. lized teaching, she said. with the intellectually disabled out of old woman has been teaching at Rabbit “With children with serious intellec- “In order to help children with inte- about 2,000 NGOs in Cambodia. School, an institution in Phnom Penh that tual disabilities, it takes a lot of time for llectual disabilities, it requires that teac- This year, Hagar has been providing specializes in the care of students with in- them to learn and understand how to take hers, parents and the community work support for 114 young people, he said. tellectual disabilities. care of themselves and communicate with together,” Art Vanny said. “Teachers are “We put them in public schools… because Managing of a class of 30 students ta- their families…We teach the m about playing a very important role in school we want to raise people’s awareness in the kes a lot of time and patience, Art Vanny behavior management such as toileting, but parents have a key role at home. We community so they know that [students said. “We spend about 20 minutes teac- dressing, feeding, positioning and basic try to explain to parents how to look after with intellectual disabilities] can learn like hing them the numbers or Khmer lan- physiotherapy,” she said. their children.” other students,” he said. “We also want to guage, and then we separate them into In the case of students with low inte- “All children with intellectual disabili- make students with intellectual disabili- three groups because they have different llectual disability, Art Vanny said, “We ties have the right to human dignity, the ties understand about society and make degrees of intellectual disability. We take have seen many children get better after right to live and the right to be taken care society accept them.” 10- minute breaks and bring them to the we have taught them. We send them to… of like other children,” she said. But wit- Hagar has launched for its students toilet. Then we give them some snacks,” classes with other students in public scho- hout support, she said, “It affects their a vocational training program ranging she said. ols [part of the week]. It’s easy for us to de- children’s right: They don’t have the right from basic office work to cooking and Mech Dara Art Vanny’s biggest challenge is con- velop their potential.” to walk, to see or to participate in society. gardening with support from the Ministry A student, above, is making handicraft during a class at Rabbit School as a part of vocational training pro- trolling her mischievous young pupils, she “What makes me very happy is to see “All they end up knowing is the inside of Education and the Ministry of Social gram. Below, students’ handicraft are gathered after class. said. Since some of them have severe au- my students make progress,” she said. of their houses,” Art Vanny added.

12 13 FEATURE

Young and Relocated The Impact of Eviction on Children’s Education

14 15 FEATURE

Mech Dara Meas Chea, is determinted to keep 10-year-old son in school no matter the hardship for herself. Mech Dara Meas Chea’s children and grandchildren are getting ready to have their meager meal.

By Mech Dara However only 27 of them registered for my mother to buy food for us.” ties is 10 percent compared to 8.3 percent at the local primary school at the start of While there still were children from the nationwide. n any given day, Meas Chea When they lived in the Dey Krahorm school year 2012-2013. “And eight stu- Tangthiev community attending primary Ever since they were relocated away walks the roads and dirt paths of community in Phnom Penh, Meas Chea dents out of the 27 from the Tangthiev school in May 2013, only one student, a from Phnom Penh, people of the Tangthi- Odong Mountain, collecting any was renting a small wooden house and community have not come to school since young woman, was going to secondary ev community have been struggling to Odiscarded plastic bottles or tin cans she supported the family as a street vendor November,” said Som Sokear, deputy di- school. survive and, with their families moved to can find. and occasional beggar. rector of Areikassap Primary School. an area with few opportunities to earn a Wearing dirty black pants and a long That life came to an end in January Since the families moved to the area, living, young people have not had the luxu blue, faded t-shirt on a recent afternoon, 2009 when the last 150 families in the their children had done well at school, he “Every day, I worry that I will ry of studying. As Va Saveourn explained, she was dragging a large plastic bag heavy community were evicted by 200 police- said. “If the students from the relocation many parents are forced to leave for weeks with her day’s collection: There was going men and 600 workers equipped with bu- site had the opportunity to study, they not be able to get food for my on end to work in Phnom Penh or other to be enough money to feed her two chil- lldozers and fire trucks. would get good marks, sometimes better provinces either taking their children with dren and three grandchildren that night. For many children and teenagers of the than the regular children,” he noted. children and grandchildren,” them or leaving their teenagers in charge The 56-year-old widow is always ac- 100 families who were relocated at the site This may be due to the fact that, like of their siblings. companied by her daughter. Pov Chanty now called the Tangthiev community in Meas Chea’s son Pov Ratana, students said Meas Chea. In a 2012 report, the NGO Sahmakum was in grade two when her mother deci- Kandal province, this move put an end to from the Tangthiev community tend to go Teang Tnaut, which researches and works ded to take her out of school in 2011 so their education. to school with a mission, feeling that they with relocated communities, wrote that she could work with her. Now, the 11-ye- With their parents unable to earn a li- carry the hopes of their families on their In its 2011 study “Socio Economic Im- most families at Tangthiev where basic fa- ar-old makes the rounds in her tattered ving as they had done in the city, a great shoulders. “I’m studying very hard,” Pov pact of Forced Eviction at the household cilities and services are still lacking have clothes, her hair bleached by the sun. number of them dropped out of school to Ratana said. level in Phnom Penh,” the Housing Rights fallen into debts and pawned whatever Meas Chea, however, insists that her work and help support their families. His goal is to go to university and then Task Force noted that evictions and relo- they owned for money. 10-year-old son Pov Ratana attends scho- According to community leader Va Sa- return to the community to teach English cations deeply affect students. The report Many children and teenagers are now ol. “My dream is to have my son finish veourn, there are 56 children of primary and support his family. On school holi- revealed that the percentage of students working full time to help their families Mech Dara high school and get a good job. I don’t school age among the families living at days, Pov Ratana works at Odong Moun- repeating a school year is double the na- pull through. The lack of formal educati- Pov Chanty explains that she dropped out of school want to see him uneducated like me,” that relocation site in Ponhea Leu district’s tain. With the money he earns, he said, “I tional rate in relocated communities, and on may handicap Tangthiev community’s to help support her family. The family was not always that poor. Phnom Bat commune. can buy a book or a pen, and keep some that the drop-out rate in those communi- young residents for the rest of their lives.

16 17 In its 2012 report “State of Migration: An FEATURE overview of forced displacement in Cam- bodia,” the Jesuit Refugee Service wrote: “A large proportion of young people are economically active, especially young people under the age of 15 years…Cam- bodia’s poor and very poor youth cannot afford to be unemployed so will accept work for low pay with poor conditions and little or no social or safety protection on short-term or informal contracts. Young people in these positions are particularly vulnerable to workplace in- juries, exploitations and abuses.” As time goes by, the Tangthiev families are concerned that their children will not be able to pull out of this circle of poverty. “Every day, I worry that I will not be able to get food for my children and grandchildren,” Meas Chea said. “They are young and they need food to eat. But Indigenous I can only make less than $1 per day… So we can only have rice and sometimes we don’t.” While all her hopes rest with her son, Groundbreakers she worries for her daughter that she pu- lled out of school so she could work with Ty Samphors Vicheka her. “I don’t know what kind of future my Ky Sinh, a minority group student in Kratie province. daughter will have: Maybe she will be a beggar all her life,” she said. By Ty Samphors Vicheka Even the son of community leader Va ducation is the main key to elimi- should not learn much as man because ople. I have visited some places where I Saveourn had, to his father’s grief, to drop nate poverty. However, people who it is useless when they cannot find a job have never done before at my provinces. out school to help his family. live in remote area, especially indi- and they still do farming or become a wife I feel like I am as a frog in the cage when “I would like appeal to any and all Egenous people, are still facing many cha- in the future. . She said “everyone in my leaving the village”. NGOs to give us support so that all those llenges in term of getting the knowledge. village keeps saying the same thing about According to the report from Indige- children can go back to school,” he said. Lacking of schools, teachers, poor in- this and it also makes me feel disappoin- nous People NGO Network about The “They are young, full of potential, and frastructure, family conditions and perso- ted and discourages me sometimes.” Rights of Indigenous People in Cambodia, they are at an age to study and learn.” nal perception are the main reasons that Though Sinh faces many challenges, the populations of indigenous people are students drop school in remote areas. she still tries the best to overcome and about 1. 34% of total population of Cam- The sound of laughing and smiling was change those old perceptions. bodia is 13.5 million. However, the num- turning louder and louder from a wooden Ka Mathul, a vice rector of Khemarak bers of those who can access to education house surrounding by many kind of trees University, says that there are 25 indige- are very limited. to show a simple environment how villa- nous students in his school now; they are Khiev Vo, school director of Mean gers live their lives in the province. facing some problems when moving to Chey, said Thmey commune 90% are in- Wearing long jean with pink shirt and continue their studies at university. “To digenous people and the number of indi- sitting in the middle of the house accom- help those people, we have directly com- genous people who can come to study are pany by her family and friends, Ky Sinh, municate to the commune chiefs to take less than non-indigenous people. 22, is from indigenous family in Kratie care those marginalized people. We have He said most people in Thmey com- province. She was just back from Phnom provided scholarships to them if they are mune are indigenous and are faming, so Penh to visit her family. Sinh is one girl willing to study” he explains. they cannot afford to send their children in this village who pursue her studies in Yim Chung, Director of Ethnic mino- to school. And, school is also far from Phnom Penh. rity development department of Ministry their house and along the way to school With a smiling face, Sinh, a fresh- of Rural Development states that the mi- is surrounded by thick forest, so it is not man of Khemarak University majoring nistry is improving eduaction system for really safe for girls. Therefore, some pa- in International relations, expressed her them by selecting indegineous people to rents do not allow their children to come feeling that “I am very excited to have be trained to become teachers. Secondly is to study. a chance to study, she added, it was not include indigenous culture in the educati- Ky Sin wants to be a lawyer as this ca- that easy for me to get out of the village to on system and opens study centers where reer will help her people understand more study in Phnom Penh.” There are not so most indigenous people are . about child rights, land rights, women many young people in her village having a Leaving her province to continue her participation in village and communes. chance to attend the school. Most of them study, Sinh expresses that she has gotten She said “what I get from my study I will Mech Dara quit school in secondary school. new experiences in her life. She said “I use it to make my community change too”. Children from the relocation site Tangkhiev. Above left, two boys go about their tasks at home. Above left, Pov Ratana at school. Right, Chan Teary, third grade teacher, Areikassap Primary School. Sinh also pointed out that people in her have changed gradually; I know how to family and also her neighbor think girl adapt and how to communicate with pe-

18 19 FEATURE Against All Odds

Deaf Students Pursue Education with Determination

Mech Dara Mom Socheat during class at Phnom Penh Thmey High School. By Mech Dara

Every afternoon, Mom Socheat, a deaf like us,” he said. “I have learned a lot of teenager who came to Phnom Penh from sign language from him….When he has Takeo province to get better access to any difficulty, he shows by gestures or wri- education, sits with his deaf friend at the tes me a note. back of the class in Hun Sen Phnom Penh At the KrousarThmey school, Mom Thmey High School in Sen Sok district, Socheat has also learned to figure out Mech Dara staring at the whiteboard and trying to what people are saying by watching their A deaf student practices sign language while reading. figure out what the teacher is explaining. lips when they speak, a skill that is proving Since 2006, the 16-year-old student has quite useful. “I read lips thoroughly…It wanted to go somewhere,” he explained Unlike people with hearing, deaf pe- due to parents’ genes, but the other half guage was developed in the country in the been studying in the morning at a special helps me understand teachers and other through a sign-language interpreter from ople don’t have the chance of learning at can be avoided, being caused to accidents late 1990s. school for the deaf set up in Phnom Penh students and communicate with them,” he the Krousar Thmey School. “It was very home during their childhood or in regular or diseases such as whooping cough, scar- But even today, much remains to be by the organization Krousar Thmey. The said. difficult to be in touch with regular people primary school afterwards. “Eighty per- let fever or meningitis that can be treated, done to fully develop a sign language in rest of the day, he attends a regular class Still, without an interpreter during because they did not understand me. cent of education comes through hearing, Dittmeier said. This is why parents need Khmer, said PhonKosal, assistant teacher at Hun Sen Phnom Penh Thmey High class, Mom Socheat believes that he can “I tried to communicate by drawing which means that deaf people miss 80 per- to learn about deafness and have their at K rousarThmey. “It is hard for us to School, which is not always easy since the only get 60 or 70 percent of a lesson. “It’s pictures to show what I wanted to do, dra- cent of the education,” Dittmeier said. “So children checked by competent doctors in teach deaf students because some school school, unlike some other public schools, hard for them to catch up with other stu- wing my home for them when I wanted to it looks as if deaf people were stupid. They case deafness can be avoided or reduced, subjects are not yet covered by sign lan- does not have a sign-language interpreter dents and the school curriculum,” said go home and so on,” Mom Socheat said. are intelligent like you and me but their he said. guage,” he said. due to budget constraints. Khmer teacher Lay Chandyna. “When we “One of the worst parts of being deaf is knowledge is limited because they could Until 1996, Cambodia was one of the Krousar Thmey, which has developed But teachers and other students do the- explain something, deaf students do not isolation,” said Charles Dittmeier, project not learn all things that you learn when rare countries in the world not to have a school programs for deaf and visually ir best to communicate with Mom Soche- understand us…And I cannot understand director for the Deaf Development Pro- you grow up. So there is discrimination sign language for its deaf people, Dittme- impaired students, assists the Ministry at. “There is no discrimination towards their sign language so I don’t know whet- gram (DDP), which is funded by the orga- against them because they look dumb…. ier said. Although the French had helped of Education to integrate those students me,” he said. “Teachers and students are her they understood the lesson or not.” nization Maryknoll and the Finnish Asso- We know many deaf people whose own develop a sign language in Laos and Viet- into the public school system. Students friendly and helpful. Some students help All those stumbling blocks are nothing ciation of the Deaf. “All over the country relatives think they have mental problems nam during Indochina, they had not done spend half a day in specialized classes set me…they draw pictures or write to ex- new for Mom Socheat. they live isolated. They may live at home instead of just being deaf.” This is why one so in Cambodia. And no sign language for up by Krousar Thmey and the other half plain when I do not understand.” “When I was young I used my own- but they cannot talk to their parents, brot- of DDP’s activities consists of creating Khmer was developed after independence in regular classes. There currently are such Vath Vattanak is one of those friendly signs to communicate with my family, fri- hers and sisters…They have never talked support groups to help deaf people beco- in 1953, he said. programs in 10 provinces in the country, students. “Mom Socheat is just a human ends and other people. I used my hands to a human being in their lives, so there is me part of their own society, he said. It is only due to the Deaf Development said Hang Kimchorn, program coordina- being and he wants to learn and have fun to show them I wanted to go home or I much isolation.” About half the cases of deafness are Programand KrousarThmey that sign lan- tor for the deaf at Krousar Thmey.

20 21 Although there is no truly reliable data on the subject, indications are that there are around 50,000 deaf people in the co- untry, he said. Most deaf children tend to come from poor families in rural areas, he added. Around 650 students were in the Krousar Thmey school program during school year 2012-2013. According to Nhean Saroeun who he- ads the Ministry of Education’s Special Education Office, there currently are 115 teachers in the public school system who have been trained to teach deaf students. “We have encouraged teachers by provi- ding a short training so they can identity a students’disability and teach deaf students in some provinces,” he said. “The ministry has plans to train more primary and secondary school teachers in the provinces…so they can understand students with impaired hearing and help them.” There is a great need for more te- achers with specialized training: During school year 2012-2013, there were 8,448 students with impaired hearing enrolled in regular primary schools, he said. “We encouraged parents [of deaf students] to send their children to school so they can get an education,” Nhean Saroeun said. Both the Deaf Development Program and Krousar Thmey offer vocational trai- ning to help deaf students get a trade so they can earn a living. In addition four deaf students were at university in 2012- 2013. Ask what advice he would give parents of deaf children, Hang Kimchorn said he would tell them to learn sign language to they can interact with their deaf children and educate them as they do their other children. And when they send their deaf child at a regular school, they should check with the teachers to make sure they pay attention to their child, he said.

As all people interviewed said, the goal Mech Dara is to give deaf people and education and Photos above and left, students at the Krousar Thmey skills so that they can support themselves School attend special classes for deaf students. with a job and have normal lives in their For information regarding deaf chil- communities whether they specialize in dren or adults, contact: sewing or computer science. -Deaf Development Program: 7A, Street 101, Phnom Penh Tel: 023-987-931 or 017-993-321 E-mail: [email protected] Website : http://dde-cambodia.org

-Krousar Thmey: 4 Street 257 - Tuk Laâk I Toul Kauk - Phnom Penh Tel: (855) 023 880 503 E-mail: [email protected] Website : www.krousar-thmey.org

22 23 FEATURE Cambodia Challenges to Run Pre-school

Chan Muyhong Students learn during their class at the Wat Koh pre-school.

By Chan Muyhong

After more than 40 years after decades of inside schooling at a kindergarten level is vital in order for In this school we follow the study curriculum set by war, Cambodia is still struggling to fix what has been children to develop academically in later life. Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. It is the na- lost in the past. One of the many reasons that make Lina Ty whose son is studying first grade in one tional curriculum of which every pre-school in the Cambodia a nation so lack behind other nations in public school of Ta Khmao Province says she did not country have to follow the same program.” she said. South East Asia is that her education system has not send her kid to pre-school because there is not any “We are not just teacher, we also take a role as nanny. yet been advanced. pre-school in her area. “I do not know about public You know that kids at that age need a lot of attention By 2015, this Kingdom of Wonder determines pre-school. I did send my kid to a private English and care. It’s quite a challenge for us.” to make education accessible to every boys and girls language pre-school when he was 5. If there was one In return, pre-school teachers receive salary in the throughout the country. Whether or not Cambodia public pre-school available near here, I would send amount that they deserve to be paid more. Currently, will reach this goal is still questionable. my kid there. salary of pre-school teacher is about 18$ only. According to the website of Ministry of Education When asked if she knows about the advantages Rong Chhun, the direction of teacher association Youth and Sport, not more than three years ago that of pre-school for her kid, Lina Ty mentions that she said that “the government could improve early child- Cambodia formulated its guideline to the establish- has no idea about it at all. “Children should be sent hood education by updating the curriculum and pay- ment of pre-school in every elementary school. The to school when they are six years old” that is all she ing teachers a better salary.”. full program of pre-school has just approved and put know. More than …percent of the population are under into implement last year. Comparing to Vietnam and Thailand, Cambodia age 30. By year…. The estimate of young baby born The overall budget is about starting from 2009 has a lot more to do to achieve this goal. will top up to …… and that indicate an increase de- keep increasing from 49,000 million riels in 2009 to The important of Pre-school is that “Kids will be mand for pre-school. about 78,001.3 million riels in 2013. The budget plan able to catch up faster when they enter elementary More and more people are aware of the advan- include facility development, program development school. Here, kids learn moral, drawing, math, let- tages of having their kid enter pre-school and private and teacher salary. ters, singing, and exercise. These skill allows them to pre school now is take over public pre-school in both According to the website from the ministry of think, imagine and learn by playing”, said the director curriculum and learning environment. And private Education, there are plan to increase more students to and also teacher of Wat Koh Pre-school, Chengchan pre-school is becoming a popular choice for well-off join pre-school from 15% in 2012 to 30% by 213. The Darapich. parents who wish to a good education for their kids. website also mention that in the 2013 – 2014, more Having been a pre-school teacher since 1981, she By 2015, Cambodia will enter to compete with than 70% of teachers in pre-school will receive train- adds that the education that kids get at pre-school is a other nations in the job market. If the situation doesn’t ing regarding child development and receive a certifi- strong stepping stone for them in future and that kids improve, Cambodia will still be a nation whose devel- Chan Muyhong cate for that training. age from 3-5 years old should not miss pre-school at opment is as fast as a turtle. Photos above and left, students at the Wat Koh pre-school attend thier classes in Phnom Penh. Mr. Rong Chhun in 2012 said that government all. must improve early childhood education because “The teacher will teach according to their age.

24 25 FEATURE Staying Focused Blind and Low Vision Students Pursue an Quality Education and a Better Life

By Mech Dara

ost students can afford to stop students. “I did not learn much,” Raun paying attention for a few Songhak said. moments in class. If they start They later were able to attend a school Mthinking of something else instead of set up by the organization Krousar Thmey listening to the teacher, they can usually for blind and low-vision people. “My life catch up by glancing at what the teacher completely changed when I was admitted is writing on the board. at the school,” Raun Songhak said. “I’ve But Ann Sophorn and other blind or had the chance to learn and communicate Raun Songhak, 19, is performing traditional music low vision students don’t have that luxury. with blind, low vision as well as ordinary For them, it’s essential to listen carefully people. And we can learn like other pe- so that they can not only remember but ople do.” The program involves students also comprehend everything the teacher spending half their time at the Krousar explains. Thmey school and the other half at a pu- Before the organization launched its blind or low-vision children to have an “We have to use our imagination and blic school with regular students. program to educate blind and low-vision education. In 2012-2013, there were 8,068 our memory to understand the lessons In this program done in cooperation students, she said, “Visually impaired blind and low-vision students at public and to deal with problems in our lives,” with the Ministry of Education, students children could not get access to educati- primary schools, said Nhean Saroeun the 20-year-old student said. are supplied with some school manuals on. They were just left behind, staying at who heads the Special Education Depart- And problems in their lives tend to in braille and can follow lessons without home or being beggars. Cambodians in ment at the Ministry of Education. multiply. Just getting to school is a cha- relying only on their memory. the past though that these disabled chil- “Our ministry is working hard to help llenge, said Raun Songhak, a 19-year-old Braille consists of writing a text in dren had done something bad in past lives blind and low vision students get educa- student who, like Ann Sophorn, has low small dots set in relief that blind and low- and were this way because of what they tion like ordinary students,”he said. “We vision. “It’s very difficult for us to travel vision people read by touching them. “It call karma [the present affected by one’s have provided some training for provin- in any town or city because of the busy was difficult to learn braille because there behavior in past lives].” So they would not cial teacher departments and teacher offi- traffic,” he said. are so many symbols to remember and it try to help blind or low-vision children cials at district levels so they can teach ot- In a country in which traffic lights— requires a good memory,” Ann Sophorn develop like others, she said. her teachers in the different communes,” when there are any—are often seen by said. “It took me about a year to learn to But this attitude is changing due to he said. “They learn simple ways to help motorcyclists and car drivers as suggesti- use braille.” Braille for awareness campaigns, Neang Phalla said. them.” ons rather than traffic control, making his was developed in the mid-1990s by Krou- During school year 2012-2013, there were According to Dr. Do Seiha, vice chair- way to school is a major project for a blind sar Thmey when the organization opened 373 students in the Krousar Thmey school man of the National Program for Eye or low-vision student. the country’s first school for the blind in program plus 55 others in public-school Health at Ministry of Health, the cause Mech Dara Both Raun Songhak and Ann Sophorn Phnom Penh, said Neang Phalla, pro- special classes, where they are well recei- for blindness or low vision in Cambodia Above: Blind and low vision students play traditional Cambodian instruments at the Cambodia Japanese Co- first attended regular primary schools that gram coordinator for the blind at Krousar ved by regular students, she said. range from anything from cataract, cor- operation Center. Below: A low vision students uses a magnifying glass to read a book during class at Krousar were not equipped for blind or low-vision Thmey. More and more parents want their nea scar, glaucoma, fungus infection to Thmey in Phnom Penh.

26 27 eye injury. could study at the Royal School of Ad- But no matter what, he said, “Disabled INTERVIEW “A pregnant woman should get vacci- ministration, Cambodia’s public service people should not give up hope. They nated against rubella [also known as Ger- school. The prime minister took action have to work very hard to get skills and man measles] to protect her child from and Sean Viboth studied and graduated vocational training. Then society will blindness,” he said. Rubella may cause from the school in 2012. respect and value them since they will blindness in an unborn child. Buon Mao, director of the Associati- have the ability to perform work.” Also, Dr. Do Seiha said, “When the on of the Blind in Cambodia, says that Raun Songhak, who is still studying at child is born with measles, he could get a people’s social perceptions regarding Krousar Thmey, agreed. “We have to try cornea scar that may make him blind.” Pe- disabled people are slowly changing due as hard as we can to overcome barriers ople with a rash, cough or any other disea- to the efforts of a few organizations and and to reach our dream,” he said. se should try to stay away from a pregnant some media campaigns. However in the For more information: woman so her baby will not be affected, countryside where those campaigns do Krousar Thmey: (855) 023 880 503 he said. not reach, discrimination endures. ABC: 017 911 417 Blindness can be due to inadequate nu- trition, but most cases brought to hospi- tal are due to cataract that can be treated with surgery and injuries due to children playing with knives or other sharp objects or throwing things at each other, he said. Although there are no accurate data, the Association of the Blind in Cambo- dia estimated in the mid-2000s that about 1.1 percent of the population was visua- Yen Sokha, deputy of Non-Formal Education at the Ministry of Education,Youth and Sports. By Mech Dara lly impaired, which would mean around 155,000 people today. Going to school takes hard work on the What are advantages for providing tor preparing, automotive mechanic, art job in other locations so they have taken part of the blind and low vision students, non-formal education? of drawing pictures, carpenter and furni- their children with them and it is hard said Pheap Sophak who has been teaching According to UNESCO, there were ture skill, sculpture and carving , blacks- for us to track them. Some teacher blame at Krousar Thmey for three years. “We about 2 million illiterate people in Cam- mith skill, traditional music and dancing poor students, and it can make them to still have limited resources so it is diffi- bodia. Non-formal education is playing skill. stop attending school cult for them to learn some subjects such an important role to help develop human We employ teachers or skilled peo- Some families want their children to as math and physics,” he said. “Teachers resources contributing to quality educati- ple who live in their community to teach stop studying and find jobs because they need to explain phenomena and formula, on in order to achieve EFA goal [Educati- them. We have also provided them some do have money to support them attending and then they can give them exercises to on For All]. It has provided opportunities materials and equipment so that they can school. For children enrolled in school in practice….Students need to hold or touch to citizens at all ages not fortunate enough practice. After they have completed the late age, they also find it hard to pursue the equipment then it’s easy for them to to access to formal education. This allows course they take that lesson to earn mo- their study because they feel embarrassed understand.” them to receive lifelong education and to ney to help them to improve their living when they could not catch up with other The fact that few school manuals and educate students who have dropped out conditions. student and they are older than other stu- reference books are available in braille from school For a re-entry program, we brought dents in their class. It can make them to complicates matters, said Neang Phalla. How many programs that NFE has back students who skipped their classes stop studying. When they go to university or a vocatio- provided to help them? or had dropout from schools to return to We have limited financial resources for nal school, blind and low vision students We have provided many programs school and we taught them during school some community when their community have to do without, she said. There are nu- such as functional literacy, post-literacy, break in August and September to enable does not have teachers and trainers. We merous documents in braille on the inter- re-entry, equivalency or complementary re-start their classes. The teacher selec- have to employ them from other commu- net but in English, not in Khmer. So tho- education or income generation through ted the main subjects to teach them and nities. It costs a lot of money for them be- se who are not as fluent in English have community learning center, life quality then they tested them to see whether they cause they need to pay for their transpor- limited access to material, Neang Phalla improvement through mobile learning could move to the next grade. Children tation and we do not have enough salary said. Krousar Thmey has set up a braille van, and have libraries and reading rooms who pass could go to the next grade. to provide for teachers. In addition, our printing workshop and tries to produce as for them. A CLC [Community Learning Center] government does not have money to lend many books and school manuals as pos- Functional literacy programs aim to is to provide various learning opportuni- the community to start up small business sible. enable learners such as children, youth, ties for community development and im- so it is hard for them. Over the years, blind and low visi- civil servants, armed forces, worker, em- prove of the quality of life. In addition we still have limited infor- on graduates from Krousar Thmey have ployee and all adult with no access to edu- What are the challenges for the NFE? mation disseminates about programs. studied at university and obtained their cation to read, write and count and give We have faced many problems such as What is your recommendation? diplomas, ready to enter the marketpla- them skills to assist them in their daily limited teachers, equipment, dissemina- Communities, parents and govern- ce. One success story is Sean Viboth who lives and activities. tion of education programs and parents ment need to work together to reduce illi- now is on staff at the Press and Quick Re- People in rural villages have opportu- and community have little understanding teracy in Cambodia. We know it is hard action Unit of the Council of Ministers. nity to learn job skills programs and ot- about the value of education. for the poor family to send their children Getting there took some hard work on her vocational training such as computer, Because of poverty and limited to school but if they have willingness and his part. After graduating from the Royal English language, sewing, cooking, hair knowledge some parent and community with support and encouragement from University of Phnom Penh with a degree Mech Dara dressing , beautician, weaving, traditional do not value education enough to not the community and government, their Above: a student writes in braille. Below, the English alphabet in braille. in literature, Sean Viboth made an appeal silk, rice planting techniques, vegetable send their children to school. It is hard children can stay in school. to Prime Minister Hun Sen on television planting, animal, fish rising, electricity, air for us to help them to bring their children in 2011, asking him to intercede so he conditioners, mobile phone and refrigera- back school. Other parents have to find

28 29 PHOTOS To Live, Learn And Work with Hope

Mech Dara People with disabilities are making handicraft at Watthan Artisans Shop situated inside Wat Than pagoda, towards the south of Phnom Penh as a part of vocational training program and employment and thier handicraft are displayed including including fine wood carving, producing top-quality fashion and home accessories from locally-woven silk, cot- ton, up-cycled materials and re-claimed hardwoods.

Mech Dara At top, Prak Thit, 32, carves hardwood to make an elephant. Above, hand-carved hardwoods are displayed. Left Pok Kosal, 28, shapes hardwood to make a Naga.

30 31 PHOTO ESSAY OPINION Start With the Teachers Taking a Break With Rong Chhun, president of the Cambodian Independent Teachers’ Association Students celebrate Khmer New Year at school before leaving for the holiday. There is high dropout rate in secondary together to help children pursue their and community in order to help keep stu- school because of poverty, high educati- education. dent stay in school and actively transfer on fees, unemployment and corruption Parents and community are playing an their knowledge to students. in Cambodia’s education sector. Further, important role to keep children at school. The ministry and government need to some parents and community have little They need to participate actively and provide enough salary and enough school understanding about the importance of encourage children to pursue their study material for teachers so they have enough education. and need to understand the importance money support their family and have Some parents are poor so they have to of education. enough school material for their students. withdraw their children from school to Teachers need to work with parents work to support the family. They think it is better for their children to find work than stay at school. They do not have the money needed for education fees such as extra class costs, costs of documents, school material, transportation and other expenses. Some parents and community do not understand the value of education. They feel hopeless when they see their children or other children who have finished scho- ols but cannot find jobs.. Some parents see very little benefit for keeping their children in school. They see the price that they pay for their children to go school is not equal to their education outcome. We see teachers selling document, Mech Dara forcing student to study extra classes, and Above, young students dance at Chh- some student sometime pay bribe to their vang Primiary School in Kandal prov- teachers to get better mark. All this has ince’s Chhvang commune. Below left, negative impact on the quality of our edu- a young girl tries to hit the clay pot to cation sector. When quality of education release some sweets. Left, a boy laughts get poor, it makes people having poor mo- while playing games. Bottom right, stu- rality, poor critical thinking and it impact dents share food that they prepared at the economic and social development of home. the country. There are many big factors contributing to poor quality in Cambodia education sector such as low salary of teachers, limited ability and knowledge of students, absence of students, lack of attention by students, corruption, low value on educati- on by community, poor commitment of some teachers. We see the government and the ministry do not pay enough attention to teachers. They do not provide enough salary for teacher so teachers need to have part time work to get some money to support their family. They do not provide Mech Dara significant school material or training for Above, students at a primary school in Kompong LETTER TO THE EDITOR Speu province. Below, students play before class at teachers. [email protected] Hun Neang Boeng Trabek Khangkoeut primary Letters for the publication should A lot of elements are required to keep school in Phnom Penh. children from dropping out from scho- be no longer than 1000 words The ol including teachers, students, parents, letter mush include a phone num- Ministry and the government working ber for verification.

32 33

ENGLISH MONTHLY TRANSLATED VOCABULARY ENGLISH MONTHLY FILL IN THE BLANKS

FOOD CROP precipitation (n)​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ទឹកភ䮛ៀង ζរធ䮛ាក់ភ䮛ៀង I. GRAMMAR has little vegetation to protect 1. The _____ rain caused office today. In countries like Niger and Mauritania, the cultivation of land has 1. In 1793, Charles New bold _____ of the wind. the river to overflow its banks. A. encrypted changed little in the past several centuries. Additionally, these coun- as a result (conj) ᾶលទ䮒ផល ᾶហតបណ䮏ាលឲេ យ្ designed a cast iron plow that A. from the effects A. abstract B. incessant tries mono-modal rainfall pattern brings precipitation for only three intensified (v) ធ䮜ើឲយរឹតត្ ខ䮛ាំងឡើងែ _____ than the wooden plow B. it the effects B. indigenous C. marginalized months during the year. As a result, food production doesn’t nearly then in use. C. it from the effects C. hollow D. inalienable meet demand. Several agencies and organizations have intensified their fertilization (n) ζរ⮶ក់ជី A. was more efficient D. the effects from it D. incessant 7. Providing an excellent efforts to increase the productivity of land in these countries. They have ample (adj) គប់គ្ ាន់្ B. was of more efficient 7. Not only _____ the 2. With its _____ engine, view of the landscape up to 120 introduced new methods of fertilization and soil management. With C. had more efficiency most populous city in the United the care performed better than miles in all directions, the moun- ample sunlight for photosynthesis and modern irrigation techniques, photosynthesis (n) ζរធ䮜ើរសើ䮘សំ柄គ D. it was more efficient States in 1890, but it had also we had hoped. tain _____ over the surrounding sustainable farming techniques should allow farmers to boost aggre- irrigation (n) ​​ ζរបញ䮅ូលទឹក ζរបង䮠ូរទឹក ចូលក䮓ុងស្រ 2._____ think of metallurgy as become the most congested. A. marginalized countryside. gate production in order to meet demand. Still, crop revitalization fa- a modern field of science, but it is A. was New York City B. rigorous A. deviates ces an unexpected adversary: institutional incompetence. Where crop aggregate (adj)​ សរុប䞶ំងអស់ actually one of the oldest. B. that New York City was C. modified B. lies specialists have convinced individual farmers to abandon old farming adversary (n) សតូវ្ សច䮅ាមិត䮏 គូប᮶ំង្ A. Although many people C. New York City was D. garner C. portrays techniques in place of new, they cannot really obtain the governmental B. Many people who D. has New York City 3. A heavy object will D. towers cooperation they need. The biggest hurdles are political corruption, in- abandon (v) 叄ះបង់ោល C. In spite of many people 8. Although drama is a _____other objects toward it by 8. Some career choices are competence, and the absence of a marketing infrastructure. obtain (v) ទទួល厶ន D. Many people form of literature, _____from its gravity. better suited for individuals with 3. A cloud is a dense the other types in the way it is A. drain good problem-solving skills and DISASTER hurdles (n) ឧបសគ䮂 mass of _____ water vapor or ice presented. B. draw _____ minds. infrastructure (n) ហេដ䮋ារច侶សម䮖ន䮒 particles. A. it differs C. exploit A. analytical Natural challenges humans in many way, through disease, weather, A. or B. is different D. colloquial B. beneficial and famine. For those living along the coast, one unusual phenome- famine (n) ζរអត់厶យ ទុរិ䮗កស្ B. whether C. despite the difference 4. Over the sounds of the C. dependent non capable of catastrophic destruction is the tsunami (pronounce phenomenon (n)厶តុភូត C. both D. but it is different storm, she could not hear the D. epic “tsoo-NAH-mee”). A tsunami is a series of waves generated in a body D. either 9. Good pencil erasers are _____ sound of footsteps outside 9. The politician _____ of water by an impulsive disturbance. Earthquakes, landslides, volcanic destruction (n) ζរបំផ䮛ិចបំផ䮛ាញ ζរខូចខត 4. Snare drums produce a soft enough not _____ paper but her bedroom door. many crimes and dishonest acts eruptions, explosions, and even the impact of meteorites can generate generated (v) បង䮀ើត ធ䮜ើឲយ掶ន្ sharp, rattling sound _____. hard enough so that they crumble A. acclaimed before the people finally voted tsunami. Starting at sea, a tsunami slowly approaches land, growing in A. as striking gradually when used. B. condemned him out. height and losing energy through bottom friction and turbulence. Still, landslides (n) ζរ厶ក់ដី B. when are struck A. by damaging C. eternal A. discounted just like any other water waves, tsunamis unleash tremendous energy as impact (n) ផលបះ家ល់ (អវិជ្ជមាន) C. struck B. so that they damage D. fainter B. assessed they plunge onto the shore. They have great erosion potential, stripping D. when struck C. to damage 5. Through his _____, the C. manipulated beaches of sand, undermining trees, and flooding hundreds of meters approaches (v) ខិតឬចូល䟅ជិត 5. New words are cons- D. damaging billionaire will be remembered D. perpetrated inland. They can easily crush cars, homes, vegetation, and anything unleash (v) បញ䮅ញេ ចញេ tantly being invented _____ new 10. Candles _____ from for many centuries. 10. She wrote under a they collide with. To minimize the devastation of a tsunami, scientists objects and concepts. beeswax burn with a very clean A. binary _____ because women were not are constantly trying to anticipate them more accurately and more plunge (v)ហូរចក់ 叄ះពួយ䟅 A. to describe flame. B. ordeal believed to be capable of produ- quickly. Because many factors come together to produce a life-threa- erosion (n) ចមះ្រ B. a description of A. are made C. taboo cing worthy literature at the time. tening tsunami, foreseeing them is not easy. Despite this, researchers C. they describe B. making D. legacy A. precision in meteorology persevere in studying and predicting tsunami behavior. crush (v) ​បុកកំទចេ ធ䮜ើឲយខ䮑្ ចេ D. describe C. which make 6. Several individuals B. conspiracy 6. Dust storms most often D. made from _____ group of society pro- C. colleague occur in areas where the ground II. VOCABULARY tested in front of the government D. pseudonym READING TIPS IDIOMS

WISHWORDS WEB SCHOLARSHIP A. Comprehending important information and ADD FUEL TO THE FIRE—To make a bad situation worse; to do or say something that causes facts that are stated in a passage more trouble, make someone angrier: “True friends stab you in the front.” http://www.turkiyeburslari.gov.tr/index.php/ Bobby was already angry with his sister, and when she forgot to pick him up, that really added “A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees en/turkiye-burslari/burs-programlari B. Locating a specific piece of information in fuel to the fire. the dawn before the rest of the world.” http://moeys.gov.kh/en/scholarships.html the passage quickly “Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing http://www.scholars4dev.com/ TO TURN OVER A NEW LEAF—To go through a change: that is worth knowing can be taught.” http://www.scholarshipforcambodia.com/ C. Using examples and descriptions to find Mouy Hong was very badly behaved in school at first. But after a few weeks he has turned over “When I was young, I thought that money was the most important thing in life; now that I am jfunu-scholarship/ information a new leaf. old I know that it is.” http://admissions.ntu.edu.sg/graduate/schol- “We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.” arships/Pages/ASEANScholarship.aspx D. Understanding the distinction between TO TURN A DEAF EAR TO SOMETHING—To refuse to listen to or pay attention to some- “Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead.” http://www.adb.org/site/careers/japan-schol- main ideas and supporting details thing Oscar Wilde, Irish writer and poet (October 16, 1854-November 30, 1900) arship-program/main The workers protested and asked for high payment but the government turned a deaf ear to “Friendship… is not something you learn in school. But if you haven’t learned the meaning of http://www.scholarshipforcambodia.com/ E. Using transitional expressions to locate de- their request. tails such as examples, time, reasons, or result friendship, you really haven’t learned anything.” institute-of-gerontology-bursaries-for-2012/ TO TURN SOMETHING UPSIDE DOWN—To change a situation or space with little warning “I know where I’m going and I know the truth, and I don’t have to be what you want me to be. http://cambodia.usembassy.gov/fulbright_an- F. Recognizing incorrect information as well as : The police turned the student’s flat upside down looking for drugs. I’m free to be what I want.” nouncement.html information not mentioned in the text “I hated every minute of training, but I said, Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life http://www.australiaawardscambodia.org/ BURN THE MIDNIGHT OIL—to stay up very late at night studying or working. as a champion.” http://cambodia.usembassy.gov/fulbright_an- G. Identifying paraphrases that do or do not Stave has a big test tomorrow morning, so she plans to burn the midnight oil tonight. “Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul nouncement.html correctly summarize information from the text and come up with the extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even.” http://www.moe.gov.sg/education/scholar- BE LIVING ON A SHOESTRING—To have very little money to live on “The man who has no imagination has no wings.” ships/asean/cambodia/ H. Understanding the meaning of the high- Dara is living on a shoestring and he cannot afford to buy school material and uniform. Muhammad Ali, retired boxing champion, (January 17, 1942-present) lighted words correctly TIGHTEN ONE’S BELT—To economize greatly:Vion has to tighten his belt so he can have I. Using the context to understand the high- enough money to foot the bill for his university. ANSWERS. I. 1) A, 2) D, 3) D, 4) D, 5) A, 6) C, 7) A, 8) A, 9) C, 10) D. II. 1) D, 2) C, 3) B, 4) D, 5) D, 6) C, 7) D, 8) C, 9) D, 10) B lighted word clearly..

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