Where we do it > Cambodia

Facts & Figures Population: 14.2 million Capital city: Phnom Penh GDP per capita: $2,727 HDI ranking: 131 out of 177 countries * Life expectancy: 61

Country background

VSO Cambodia works in the areas of Education, Reproductive and Child Health, and Secure Livelihoods (Forestry and Fisheries). Although Cambodia is now enjoying peace after more than thirty years of conflict and political instability, it is still suffering from a greatly reduced number of qualified people in all areas of work including nurses, doctors, teachers, lecturers and managers and there is an enormous need to build up the human resource base of the country to achieve development.

Education

Forty three percent of the population is under 15 years old, yet it is estimated that 10-15% of the population never enters a school, often because families living in extreme poverty need their child to miss school in order to earn money. The government is trying hard to promote ‘Education for All’ and while there have been rapid increases in enrolment there has been less investment in improving the quality of teacher training. Teachers are not equipped to cope with the large class sizes and are not trained in up to date teaching techniques so drop out rates are high as students become demotivated by poor schooling.

Reproductive and Child Health

VSO volunteers who are experienced teachers and education managers are working at all levels within education, ranging from Provincial Teacher Training Colleges to District Offices of Education. These volunteers are improving methodologies and helping update management and planning practices among school directors, teacher trainers and district education officials. Establishing links between training colleges and schools means that newly qualified teachers continue to be supported during the early years of their career. Placements at the Ministry of Education enable volunteers to influence policy and work on national agendas, such as updating the curriculum.

Over the past ten years both infant and child mortality have steadily increased; infant and under five deaths stand at 95 and 124 per 1,000 live births respectively, while 437 mothers in every 100,000 die in childbirth.