Education in Cambodia
Erika L. Weber IME April 6, 2013 Dr. Betty Taylor
Education in Cambodia
The Kingdom of Cambodia, common referred to as Cambodia, is a beautiful country. It is located between Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand on the southern end of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. Before starting my studies this semester, Spring 2013 at USF, I knew little of Cambodia. I met another IME student here at USF whose family fled Cambodia during the civil war that started in 1970. Life in Cambodia became more dangerous during the Khmer Rouge Regime from 1975-1979. She and her family sought refuge in the United States. I was fascinated with her story of struggle and wanted to learn more. I have since interviewed others from Cambodia who were also forced abroad during that time. I wondered how this civil war and Khmer Rouge affected Cambodia’s current educational system. In this paper, I explore that question.
The estimated Cambodian population for 2013, under the King Norodom Sihamoni, is 15,205,539. The population’s median age is 23 years. 95 per cent of the people speak the official language of Khmer, but others speak French and English. Buddhism is the official religion, of which 96 per cent of Cambodians practice. Two percent are Muslim and a fraction more of the population is exercising other religions. (CIA, 2013)
Most government policy takes place in the capital city Phnom Penh that is located in the south-central region of the country on the banks of the Mekong and Bassac Rivers. (CIA, 2013)
Traditionally, most of the education in Cambodia took place in Budhist temples. The teaching was limited to mostly boys and was primarily Buddhist studies. Later, when the French colonized Cambodia in 1863, a limited educational system was put in place following the French model. In 1931, there were just seven high school graduates. Five years later in 1936, there was only an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 children
Education in Cambodia
The Kingdom of Cambodia, common referred to as Cambodia, is a beautiful country. It is located between Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand on the southern end of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. Before starting my studies this semester, Spring 2013 at USF, I knew little of Cambodia. I met another IME student here at USF whose family fled Cambodia during the civil war that started in 1970. Life in Cambodia became more dangerous during the Khmer Rouge Regime from 1975-1979. She and her family sought refuge in the United States. I was fascinated with her story of struggle and wanted to learn more. I have since interviewed others from Cambodia who were also forced abroad during that time. I wondered how this civil war and Khmer Rouge affected Cambodia’s current educational system. In this paper, I explore that question.
The estimated Cambodian population for 2013, under the King Norodom Sihamoni, is 15,205,539. The population’s median age is 23 years. 95 per cent of the people speak the official language of Khmer, but others speak French and English. Buddhism is the official religion, of which 96 per cent of Cambodians practice. Two percent are Muslim and a fraction more of the population is exercising other religions. (CIA, 2013)
Most government policy takes place in the capital city Phnom Penh that is located in the south-central region of the country on the banks of the Mekong and Bassac Rivers. (CIA, 2013)
Traditionally, most of the education in Cambodia took place in Budhist temples. The teaching was limited to mostly boys and was primarily Buddhist studies. Later, when the French colonized Cambodia in 1863, a limited educational system was put in place following the French model. In 1931, there were just seven high school graduates. Five years later in 1936, there was only an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 children