Status of Education in Cambodia
The Cambodian educational system was decimated by decades of civil war and Khmer Rouge rule. While adult literacy in this country of 14.2 million people is at 75.6 percent, only 28 percent of eligible children were enrolled in secondary school for the 2008-2009 school year according to the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. Students in government funded schools choose between English and French to fulfill their second language requirement in grades 5-12. There is an insatiable demand for children's books for young readers and for adults learning English.
Current Focus
Books for Asia is a crucial strategic partner in rebuilding the Cambodian education infrastructure, distributing over 35,000 new books donated by American publishers annually to around 100 schools, universities, nongovernmental organizations, libraries, and medical institutes. Books for Asia delivers books to 20 of Cambodia's 24 provinces and municipalities. Since 2000, many new universities have been established in Cambodia, and Books for Asia is the only organization providing English language books at the university level.
Read more about The Asia Foundation's work in Cambodia.
Partner and Project Highlights
Model Reading Rooms. In collaboration with regional teacher training
centers, high schools, and Peace Corps volunteers, Books for Asia is
encouraging greater use of libraries by providing book donations,
training librarians to create lively library environments, and funding
library renovations and the establishment of model reading rooms in
seven rural high schools in Takeo, Kampot, and Prey Veng, Svay Rieng,
and Siem Reap provinces. Funding from the President Foundation and the
Coca-Cola Foundation enable us to increase the number of participating
schools.
Room to Read Cambodia. Since 2003, Books for Asia has helped Room to
Read send more than 206,000 books to school children through more than
1,100 libraries in 14 districts in Cambodia.
Major Publisher Donors: McGraw Hill, John Wiley & Sons, Pearson,
Scholastic, Lynne Rienner, W.W. Norton & Company, and Island Press.
"The book donation is a really valuable contribution to upgrade human
resources among the landmine and war victims from all over the country,
and some disadvantaged rural poor. We feel that this is one of the most
essential elements to fill in the gap for this population that is long
overdue. We trust that this positive effect will empower one generation
after another. We are proud that The Asia Foundation has helped make
this possible."
- Chhem Sip, Deputy Secretary, United Cambodian Community Development Fund
Contact
Soeun Cham
Books for Asia Program Officer
scham@asiafound.org