World Bank Funded School Program Inspires Cambodia’s
Students to Big Dream
Monday, 11 January 2010 08:20 DAP-NEWS/ Ek Madra
(CAAI News Media0
PHNOM PENH, January 11, 2010 — The World Bank-assisted Education Sector Support Project is expanding educational facilities in poor and underserved areas, delivering scholarship programs to poor children, providing training and capacity building at local levels to improve education services and addressing specific implementation issues around the Government's Education Strategic Sector Plan, said the Bank report seen by DAP.
The program is also known as “Based Classroom Improves Student Learning”
Under the program, students, especially poor girls and ethnic minority children, receive scholarships ranging from US$45 to US$60 per year to support their studies, it said.
Meas Sokhunthea, a shy 8th grade student at Preah An Kosa secondary school in Siem Reap town, has wanted to be a teacher since she was a little girl.
“With the scholarship that I’ve been given and my mom’s strong support for my studies, I believe I will reach my goal,” the Bank quoted Sokhunthea said.
Sokhunthea, is one of 36,000 lower-secondary and primary students, received scholarships through a component of the Education Sector Support Project (ESSP), which is financed by the World Bank in Cambodia. Under the program, students will receive scholarships ranging from US$45 to US$60 per year to support their study.
Sokhunthea got US$45, which she used to buy her uniform, books, pen and her school bag. Sokhunthea thanks the Bank’s program because it helps to reduce her mother’s financial burden of buying her school materials.
Her schoolmate, Cheng Sopheap, who received US$60, said the money is helping him to concentrate on his studies. Sopheap said it makes him less worried about finding money to buy school materials.
Sopheap has three brothers and a sister; all of them are in school. “If there is no support, I won’t be here because my parents are very poor,” he was quoted in the Bank’s report.
In a classroom at Borkeo secondary school in Borkeo district, around 25 km from Ratanakiri provincial town, another 9th grade scholarship recipient, Pov Theary, has been given a scholarship for grades 7, 8 and 9. Each school year she gets $60. Like most of other scholarship students, Theary uses the scholarship money to buy books, uniforms, and a bicycle, and the rest she gives to her mom for buying food for the family.
Theary had been asked by her mom to quit school when she finished grade 6 because her family could not support her continuing schooling.
“When she passed grade 6, I asked her to quit school because I don’t have money to support her and I have to look after my old parents,” her mother, Pov Loth, said.
“I am alone, with no husband. It has been difficult. I couldn’t support her to continue to study,” said Theary’s mother.
“The school is far. I had no money to buy a bicycle for her as well as to pay for her school uniforms and school materials. I remember, Theary looked so sad and worried. I really sympathized with her. Luckily she got a scholarship,” said the mother.
Like Sokhunthea and perhaps many students, Theary’s end-goal is to be a teacher.
“I want to be a teacher because I like it and I see that there are not enough teachers in my community,” said Theary.
Still No Thai Ambassador, Ahbsit Under Pressure
Thailand still has yet to assign an ambassador for Cambodia following the recall of their previous ambassador November 4, 2009. There are no signs that Thai leaders are about to appoint a new ambassador.
Thai leaders recalled their ambassador from Cambodia at the beginning of November last year after fury at the appointment of fugitive former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Sinawatra as Cambodian PM Hun Sen’s advisor and the government’s advisor on economic matters on November 4, 2009.
After Thailand recalled its ambassador, Cambodia did as the same.
The argument has quickly descended into a blame game, with Thai leaders blasting Cambodian leaders for interfering in Thai internal affairs by appointing Thaksin.
However, Thailand may be overlook- ing the fact that other foreigners, such as South Korean President Ly Myung Bak, have been appointed as Cambodian advisors.
Cambodian leaders have assured that the Cambodian government has absolutely no intention of interfering in Thai internal affairs but refused to deport Thaksin to face criminal convictions in Thailand.
Koy Kuong, Cambodian Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman, on Saturday told DAP News Cambodia that he has not seen any signs that Thai leaders are willing to send another ambassador.
“So far, it is so quiet; it’s quiet from Thai party and we are waiting for that party, then we’ll follow,” Koy Kuong said, adding that “Thailand was wrongdoer so they have to solve the problem.”
However, he confirmed that present relations between the two embassies are being done by the two acting deputy ambassadors. Though, diplomatic ties have slipped, but the situation at the border is normal as soldiers often meet to discuss in order to keep the peace.
Many nations have offered their help, but Thailand has rejected arbitration by a third party. The Cambodian government has expressed hopes that the issue can be solved bilaterally, via ASEAN or the international community.
Thai PM Abhisit Vejjajiva is facing pressure as around 100.000 red shirt protesters are ready to rally at former Thai Prime Minister Surayud’s house on Monday next week, as they alleged that Surayud encroached illegally upon a forest reserve.
Abhisit thus may have little time to consider diplomatic ties.
Ahbisit on Saturday encouraged students to become more interested in politics instead of dismissing politics as an evil, according to the Nation on Saturday.
The students visited the Thai prime minister at the Thai Government House on the occasion of the National Children’s Day. They were given a chance to sit on the prime minister’s seat.
However, Cambodia’s Foreign Affair spokesman had little to say about Abhisit’s remarks. “It is Thai internal affairs as the premier Abhisit’s remarks and it is not related to Cambodia’s policy.”
“This time, Thai government’s policy affects nearby countries as Thai citizens, especially red shirts protesters, are protesting against him,” he added.
Meanwhile, Thaksin Shinawatra on Saturday told Thai children that current politics is full of deception.
Thaksin made a phone call to address children who gathered for a Children’s Day celebration, held at the Waroros Grand Palace under his sponsorship.
He told the children to ignore the current politics because it was full of lies.
“Don’t follow an example of a stupid person who allows a bankrupt person to lead him. Or, don’t follow example of grownups who are still acting like children,” Thaksin was quoted as saying by the Nation.
Abhisit also seems to be facing dissent from other coalition parties, with a possibility that those parties would join hands to push forward a constitutional amendment without waiting for support from the Democratic Party.
The Democrat Party and PM Abhisit have not been trying to delay the constitutional amendments bid as it will have to seek opinion from all members, personal spokesman of party leader Thepthai Senpong said on Saturday, according to Bangkok Post.
“The Democrat will hold a meeting of party members soon and the final conclusion on charter change will be derived before the opening of the forthcoming parliamentary session,” Thepthai was quoted as saying by the Bangkok post.
Thepthai’s remarks came after the three coalition parties—Chart Thai Pattana, Bhumjaithai and Puea Pandin —on Friday announced that they would join hands to push forward the constitutional amendments without waiting for support from the Democrat party.
Banharn Silpa-archa, chief adviser of Chart Thai Pattana Party, said his party and other coalition partners, Bhumjaithai and Puea Pandin, will file a motion in parliament to amend two sections of the 2007 constitution, once they have garnered enough support for the motion. He denies their stance threatens coalition unity.
Banharn made the announcement on Friday when leaders of Puea Pandin called on him to present their New Year’ s greeting at his residence on Charan Sanitwong Road.
The filing of the motion needs the support of at least one-fifth of parliament members. Puea Pandin Party leader Charnchai Chairungruang said the three parties have enough support in the Lower House to introduce the motion.
Cambodia Passes Fisheries Legislation
The Cambodian government has approved a sub-decree regulating fisheries investment though public bidding, said a press release from the Council of Ministers obtained on Saturday.
This sub-decree, which regulates payment for renting fishery lots, is in line with government policy and focuses on the management and control, as well as effectiveness and transparency, the press release said. It will help to promote the living conditions of local people and reduce poverty, the CoM claimed.
“The sub decree will help to collect the national income to support the government and guarantee to use the fishery product sustainability, and develop fishery through trade,” it added.
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